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Belize
Wedged between Mexico and Guatemala to the west, and the turquoise waters of the Caribbean to the east, Belize is a sliver of green.  One of the few English-speaking countries in Latin America, it is peaceful and easy place for visitors to navigate.

Mountainous rainforests lie along Belize’s western border.  From these heights, streams and rivers cascade to the drier coastal savanna below. The bio-diversity of Belize’s varied ecosystems forms the heart of Central America’s wildlife corridor, home to a dazzling array of creatures:  the scarlet macaw, kinkajou, howler monkey and large mammal species such as tapir and puma. Nearly 40 percent of Belize’s land area is protected as wilderness.

Belize’s coast is fringed with beaches and mangrove swamps, and dotted with thousands of white, sandy cayes. These diminutive islands, at times no larger than a tennis court, are the launch point for exploring the most important barrier reef system in the Western Hemisphere. Belize’s giant strands of coral teem with yellowtail snappers, sergeant majors and 300 other fish species. As a dive destination, Belize’s reefs are second only to those of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.  

Global Issues Background
There are few countries that have been as hard hit by climate change as Belize. Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns are altering Belize’s watersheds and affecting the rainforest ecosystems.  Scientists say that certain animal species, such as lizards and frogs, are dying off; these deaths may be an indication of larger problems to come. Belize’s world-famous barrier reefs starkly illustrate the effects of a changing climate.  Over the last 15 years, nearly half of these once-vibrant reefs have withered into skeletons of white, lifeless rock. This phenomenon, known as “bleaching,” is caused by rising ocean temperatures, increased exposure to sunlight and a greater frequency of violent storms – all of which are symptoms of climate change.

Belize is a living laboratory where the effects of climate change can be scrupulously studied.  It is also a place that holds important keys for unlocking a host of potential solutions.  Two of the world’s leading climate change research centers have been established there in recent years.   In addition, Belize’s large rainforest, which absorbs millions of tons of carbon dioxide each year, serves an important role in mitigating the effects of climate change. U.S. energy companies are making substantial investments to preserve Belize’s rainforest, and in the process, offset their own carbon dioxide emissions.

Nevertheless, poverty compromises Belize’s ability to help solve climate change.  More than one third of Belize’s population lives beneath the poverty line. Most of the poor subsist in isolated rural areas that lie beyond the reach of Belize’s highly centralized government. Schools and clinics are under-funded, and job opportunities remain scarce. To feed their families, farmers are routinely reduced to slash and burn agricultural practices that allow them to plant subsistence crops.  With few prospects of improving their lives through education or employment, Belize’s rural children will most likely repeat this vicious circle of poverty that continues to place pressure on local ecosystems.

Requirements
Students should have a satisfactory level of physical fitness in order to participate in manual labor and other physical activities, such as hiking and swimming.

Students and parents are required to complete all required World Leadership School forms, including the Application, Acknowledgment and Assumption of Risks, Indemnity Agreement, and the Medical Form. As part of the application, students must respond to a detailed questionnaire expressing their reasons for wanting to go on the trip.

Students should remain flexible to changing circumstances, delays and other hurdles that are common in Belize. The specifics of volunteer work will be decided according to the needs of the community or organization shortly.

Risk Management & Safety
We strive to responsibly manage risks. Our itineraries minimize highway travel and maximize immersion in rural communities that we know well. We update our risk management protocols, integrate feedback into program design, and invest in safety and communication equipment. Despite these efforts, World Leadership School cannot guarantee safety nor can it eliminate the inherent and other risks of international student travel. For information regarding program activities and associated risks, risk management, and student and parent responsibilities, please contact us(303) 679-3412.