Partners in Rural Transformation

None of the roadworks, solar energy introduction, and water supply upgrades in Machakilha would have been possible without contributions from key partners. The Government of Belize, Barefoot Children’s Ministry, Plenty Belize, The Global Environmental Facility, The G.E.F. Small Grant Program, and U.N.D.P. all teamed up to make these projects a reality. Representatives from these organizations were present on Friday to congratulate the community.

Valentino Shal

Valentino Shal, C.E.O, Ministry of Rural Transformation

“I remember the first and the main thing the villagers were asking, yes I am happy with the solar but we need the road. We need the road for education, for health, to get to town to do business, for everything. And of course, Mr. Miller said if you fix the road, even if you don’t put the rock but open it, we can drive on it to bring the panels, otherwise we would have to carry ti. And, those panels and those batteries are heavy, so we said; well we are going to fix the road. We are very happy today; it is not a perfect road. But, as Mr. Henry from Emory Grove will tell you, it’s not pretty but it is ten times better than what we had.”

Augustine Lara

Augustine Lara, Chairman, Plenty Belize

“It was October 2018, right on the same day, but after the election for Alcalde that Plenty, GEF, and the Village had our first discussion about the needs and wants of the community. We began the planning process for this work we are celebrating today.”

Miriam Choc

Miriam Choc, Solar Engineer

“Last year we came here to do the installation and I can remember that we had to walk to reach here. But, now we didn’t have to walk. I see that the road is fixed. Thanks to the Ministry of Rural Transformation now we electrified Machakilha. Today we are celebration. Last two weeks we had trained the Solar Power Board, the females.”

Kenrick Williams

Kenrick Williams, C.E.O, Ministry of Sustainable Development

“We often times engage at the higher level in these multi-lateral agreements. We have the Sustainable Development Goals. We have the UNFCCC, the United Nations Frame Work for Climate Change, and the Convention of Biological Diversity. But, what does that mean for the people on the ground in the community? I think this is what it means.”