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A gaggle of artists, architects and archaeologists motivated partially by the tireless efforts of Ok. Pierce have been volunteering to work with the residents of Indian Church Village in Belize to assist them arrange a neighborhood craft workshop, or cottage trade, to provide high quality Maya crafts that they will promote to vacationers. Our efforts additionally embody education-based packages, together with a library and literacy workshops, in addition to a scholarship program. We hope this may ultimately present an financial and training base for most of the individuals who reside on this very rural village (a village that does not even have electrical energy and whose faculty ends for college kids at age 13!).
Indian Church Village Artisans, Belize (ICVA)
In the summertime of 2000, we had been awarded a small grant to show crafts to the folks of the village of Indian Church in Belize and to assist combine the group with the Lamanai archaeological web site. We’ve got been engaged on this craft-training venture since that point. Over the previous years many artwork workshops for the residents of Indian Church Village have been carried out. We’re emphasizing Maya artwork, particularly that discovered on the Lamanai web site, in addition to the revival of historical craft traditions. There are 4 teams now they usually embody metallic smiths, potters, stone carvers, and a stitching group.
A community-based group known as Indian Church Village Artisans (ICVA) has now been fashioned and registered with the federal government of Belize. We had been awarded a grant from the British Excessive Fee to construct a craft heart within the village. The constructing was accomplished in 2003 and it’s now very important to proceed to hunt further funding for instruments and tools, in addition to funding to show extra lessons. The venture additionally secured funding via the efforts of Ok. Pierce from Rotary Worldwide and Belize’s Social Funding Fund (SIF), which has offered a dependable solar energy system, lessons, and provides for the artisans.
Indian Church Village Library
The Indian Church Village Library in Belize was opened in July 2004, it’s open 4 days per week, it presents Summer season Studying Incentive Packages, grownup literacy programs, and a dependable place for college kids to check. Latest fund elevating efforts secured a yr wage for the librarian, constructed a ten’ x 16′ addition, and added shelving and different wanted furnishings. It continues to wish help, each financially and thru the donation of provides. The librarian has been skilled via workshops by the Belize Nationwide Library Service (BNLS).
Indian Church Village Scholarship Program
There are roughly 9 college students from Indian Church Village in Belize who’ve been awarded a scholarship and are going to highschool previous the age of 13 (which is the standard age to cease as a result of there isn’t any faculty close by AND it is extremely costly to additional their training). A Canadian non-profit group known as S.H.A.R.E. has performed a big half on this in addition to the personal fund elevating efforts of Ok. Pierce. These college students must journey a minimum of 1 hour away (some 2 hours) and wish to remain in a safe residence through the week as a way to go to center and highschool. The price of that is out of attain to many residents of this small, distant village.
Past Touring a ecotourism firm that promotes eco & heritage tourism alternatives partially monetarily help this group enhancement venture.
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Source by Laura J. Howard