Project Launch:

The village of San Miguel, Belize, located in the Toledo District, the poorest district in the country with 79% of the 27,000 inhabitants living below the UNDP poverty line, has some health and sanitation concerns. There are 560 residents in San Miguel village and all are of Mayan K’ekchi descent. Trash and litter can be seen throughout the village, by the road and in particular down by the river and in 2010 there were no provisions for trash collection and removal. The litter was contaminating the water and providing a breeding ground for bacteria and mosquitoes and children were the most vulnerable to disease and infections. With a $500 grant from World Connect’s Kids to Kids Program in 2011, trash can housings for six areas within the village were built. The village council agreed to pay a local citizen to load these barrels in the back of his truck once a month and take them to the dumping area located a few miles outside of the village. The reduction in trash provides a cleaner, healthier environment for the entire village. In addition, the project supported a deep clean of the school in San Miguel as the walls were covered with mold and mildew and the paint was faded and peeling. The project reinforced the principles of good maintenance and hygiene practices and the beautiful and hygienic new buildings elevated the kids’ pride in their school. Learning in a clean classroom and environment provides a better and more engaging environment for children to live and learn in San Miguel.