Raleigh volunteers prepare for next assignment
Raleigh International, a volunteer organization based in the United Kingdom has been bringing venturers to Belize for several years now to build schools, and participate in other types of community projects and scientific research. Their latest project was the construction of the San Roman Catholic School in the Corozal District which was dedicated earlier this week. Today the volunteers were all brought to Burrell Boom for a little rest and relaxation and to get their next assignment. Janelle Chanona found out how things are going so far.
It’s been three weeks and the Raleigh venturers have regrouped at Camp Oakley for two days to share experiences, catch up on world news, count bug bites and of course, find out where they’re off to next.
Q: “How have the elements and the animals been treating you? Have you had any negative experiences?”
Elena Anouti, Lebanese Venturer
“Not so far because phase one was construction. As I said it wasn’t in the wilderness. There were dormitories where we could run and hide from the rain and from the insects. But the first two days we were in Belize we had jungle camp and it wasn’t that bad, except for the mosquitoes.”
Pippa Lacey, Public Relations, Raleigh International Belize
“They’ve been out in the field three weeks and they’ve had a really good, fantastic three weeks doing some incredible ground work. And they’ve all come back and they’re just about to hear where they’re going for their second phases so everyone’s really excited.”
Q: “Is it a big secret to them?”
Pippa Lacey
“Yes, yes it is. They don’t know so they’re very wound up about where they are going to go and which projects their sites are going to do. We’ve got a fantastic range of projects but they only get to do three of them in their expeditions so they are very excited.”
For some Belizean venturers, phase one of the expedition was more than exciting, it gave them a chance to face their fears.
Serapid Chun, Belizean Venturer
“I didn’t know anything about scuba unit, scuba dive gears; I had no idea what it was. I was just first introduced to it here.”
Q: “Were you scared?”
Serapid Chun
“Yes, I was a bit scared. Yes, to go underwater, I felt more like a fish.”
While Serapid felt like a fish, Martin Velasquez got to work with some slippery fellows, snakes that is.
Martin Velasquez, Belizean Venturer
“We discovered over nine new species in the Fire Burn Nature Reserve which is actually a new area. Last season they discovered 45 species which was the first record and in three weeks we discovered a number of 44 species which will add quite well to the data and collection back at Wild Tracks in Fire Burn.”
And how do the venturers from abroad like working with the Belizean volunteers?
Elena Anouti
“You can ask them any question about Belize and they’ll just answer you with confidence. They are very proud of their country and I like that.”
Janelle Chanona for News Five.
The Raleigh expedition runs from July to September and the venturers are working at eight different sites on projects ranging from building dormitories in Cayo to participating in scientific research on cayes. If you would like to join the next Raleigh Expedition contact the Youth Development Officer in your area or call Rupert Miller at 025-2602. You must be between the ages of 17 and 25 and be prepared to attend an assessment weekend and interview in January.
