International Friends of Belize

International Friends of Belize (IFOB) is a US-registered, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization with two functions: 1. to provide a forum of communication for those interested in the social development of Belize, and 2. to provide an effective conduit of support to community-based development projects in Belize. Since its inception in 2004, IFOB has grown significantly in both membership and funds raised. In 2005 the first scholarship program was created in Stann Creek. In 2006 IFOB's scholarship program was expanded to include Corozal district, and in 2006 nearly 20 Belizean students received full scholarships to attend secondary school.

First Function: Forum for Communication

IFOB members receive a quarterly newsletter, "The Cho Quarterly" updating them on IFOB activities, information related to Belize, and other information relevant to current and past volunteers from agencies active in Belize, such as: Peace Corps, Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Voluntary Service Overseas,Japan International Cooperation Agency,the Canadian University Students Overseas (CUSO), and others.

econd Function: Conduit of Support

The second function is achieved through IFOB's two main programs -- The IFOB Scholarship Program and the IFOB Community Grant Program. These programs are both supported through IFOB membership dues and outside donations. Since IFOB is completely ran by volunteers, 96 cents of every dollar received directly support IFOB projects in the communities of Belize.

Programs

IFOB Scholars Program

While secondary school (high school) education is increasingly necessary to enter and compete in the Belizean job market, many Belizean families are forced to choose which of their children, if any, they can afford to enroll in secondary school. Secondary school fees and related costs are relatively high in Belize (between US$400-500 per year), and for many Belizeans secondary school is simply unaffordable. One-third of Belizean children do not make it past primary (elementary) school. [http://stats.uis.unesco.org/unesco/TableViewer/document.aspx?ReportId=121&IF_Language=eng&BR_Country=580]

The IFOB Scholars Program offers opportunity to escape the cycle of poverty that plagues a large segment of Belizean society by providing the means for Belizean children to attend secondary school.

The IFOB Scholars Program was established in 2005, with an aim to providing secondary school scholarships to needy and deserving students in Belize. In the first three years, IFOB funded 33 students with full scholarships in Stann Creek District and Corozal District. In 2008, a pilot "Service Scholarship" program was started in Toledo District, tying community service responsibilities with award of multi-year scholarships.

The IFOB Scholars program is implemented on a school-by-school basis, with memorandums of understanding (MOU) signed between interested school administrators -- typically by the school principal -- and IFOB. Using this model, IFOB has signed MOU with a half dozen secondary schools in Stann Creek, Orange Walk, and Toledo Districts.

IFOB Community Grant Program

IFOB established a Community Grant Program in 2006, to provide small grants to community-based development projects in Belize in the areas of education, environment, and health. The first year, IFOB awarded three grants: to Cornerstone Foundation in Cayo District to fund a youth-centered HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention project, as well as grants to a Belize City after-school chess club and an environmental project in Seine Bight village. Thanks to increased membership support, in 2007 the IFOB Community Grants Program is doubling grants to US$1,000 per award.

History

IFOB was started in the spring of 2004 by a group of returned Peace Corps volunteers who had all served in Belize. Founding members included: Jeffrey Cleveland, Kristi Drexler, Robin Mardeusz, Maya Ravindranath, Sarah Reynolds, Sandy Roter, Donna Statler, Maura Varley, and Brenda (Link) Williams. By April, 2004, the initial steering committee was formed, bylaws were written, 501(c)(3) applications and paperwork were submitted, and two small seed grants were secured -- one from the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA), with which IFOB is affiliated; and the other from Johns Hopkins University.

Since inception in 2004, IFOB has grown significantly in both membership and funds raised. In 2005 the first scholarship program was created in Stann Creek District. In 2006 IFOB's scholarship program was expanded to include Corozal District, and the Community Grants Program was established. By 2008, 33 Belizean students had received full scholarships to attend secondary school, and a handful of community organizations had received grants in the area of health, education, and environment. During this time IFOB has also initiated two reunions of returned Peace Corps volunteers from Belize -- one in the summer of 2004 and one in the summer of 2007.

IFOB's board of directors has gone through two elections, with other volunteers joining on an ad hoc basis to serve on various committees -- including the fundraising committee, membership committee, program committees, etc. While a number of the founding members continue to serve on the board of directors, new board members have joined as well.

=External links=

* [http://www.friendsofbelize.org IFOB's web site]
* [http://www.friendsofbelize.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=82&Itemid=157/ IFOB's Scholarship Program]
* [http://www.RPCV.org/ National Peace Corps Association]
* [http://peacecorpsonline.org/ Peace Corps Online] The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
* [http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=703531 Google Answers: After Peace Corps] Summary of the three studies done of Returned Peace Corps volunteers in 1969, 1977 and 1996
* [http://www.peacecorps.gov/ Peace Corps website]
* [http://www.PeaceCorpsJournals.com Worldwide Peace Corps Blog Directory] Collection of 2,000+ online journals and blogs from Volunteers around the world * [http://www.thirdgoal.com/ Third Goal] Peace Corps Stories and Photos
* [http://peacecorpswriters.org/ Peace Corps Writers]
* [http://peacecorpswriters.blogs.com/ Peace Corps Blogs] Blogs about the Peace Corps Experience
* [http://www.photosforpeace.org/ Photos for Peace] Uncommon Travel Photography by Peace Corps Volunteers.