Belize
Belize Empowered Consulting Program gives students the opportunity to take part in the economic transformation of under-resourced, rural communities. In 2024, Global Brigades furthered its work in Central America with expansion to the country of Belize. Through collaboration with community partners and local leaders, we have begun the initial steps in implementing the Holistic Model with rural communities. We aim to collaborate with Latino, Garifuna, and Mayan communities, where there are an array of cultures and languages such as English, Spanish, Creole, and local indigenous languages. financially excluded.
In the consulting program, students will work directly with clients to provide practical, effective consultations that help community members grow their businesses. To further ensure sustainability and lasting impact, students will deliver financial literacy workshops to provide community members with lasting knowledge.
Empowered Consulting Program – 7 Day Sample Schedule:
Planning your Brigade in Belize? Check out this sample schedule outlining the typical 7-day trip your Chapter will attend.
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | Airport Pick up & Transport to Lodging Facility | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast |
| 8:00 AM | Business Programme Introduction/ Goals for the Week | Client Consultation preparation | Transport to Community | Transport to Community | Transport to Community | Departure from Compound | |
| 9:00 AM | Client Consultation | Education workshop implementation | Group Presentations to Clients | Airport | |||
| 10:00 AM | Strategies for consultations on the Week | ||||||
| 11:00 AM | Transport to Community | ||||||
| 12:00 PM | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | ||
| 1:00 PM | Community & client visit | Client Consultation | Client Consultation | Client Consultation | Cultural Exchange | ||
| 2:00 PM | |||||||
| 3:00 PM | Transport to Lodging Facility/Local Store | Transport to Lodging Facility/Local Store | |||||
| 4:00 PM | Transport to Lodging Facility/Local Store | Deliverables Preparation | Final Deliverables Preparation | Transport to Lodging Facility | |||
| 5:00 PM | Time Off | Time Off | |||||
| 6:00 PM | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | |
| 7:00 PM | Introduction to the Business In-Person Staff | Reflection: Expectations | Analyze your business clients / Preparation for Next Day Clients | Analyze your business clients / Preparation for Next Day Clients | Completion of Business Analysis, Business Plan and Deliverables | Reflection & final presentation | |
| 8:00 PM | Education workshop preparation | Celebration | |||||
| 9:00 PM | Time off | Time off | Time off | Time off | |||
| 10:00 PM | Lights Out/Quiet Hours | Lights Out/Quiet Hours | Lights Out/Quiet Hours | Lights Out/Quiet Hours | Lights Out/Quiet Hours | Lights Out/Quiet Hours |
| Day 1 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Airport Pick up & Transport to Lodging Facility |
| 8:00am | |
| 9:00am | |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | |
| 1:00pm | |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | |
| 6:00pm | Dinner |
| 7:00pm | Introduction to the Business In-Person Staff |
| 8:00pm | |
| 9:00pm | |
| 10:00pm | Lights Out/Quiet Hours |
| Day 2 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Business Programme Introduction/ Goals for the Week |
| 9:00am | |
| 10:00am | Strategies for consultations on the Week |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:00pm | Community & client visit |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | |
| 6:00pm | Dinner |
| 7:00pm | Reflection: Expectations |
| 8:00pm | Education workshop preparation |
| 9:00pm | Time off |
| 10:00pm | Lights Out/Quiet Hours |
| Day 3 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Client Consultation preparation |
| 9:00am | |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | Transport to Community |
| 12:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:00pm | Client Consultation |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | Transport to Lodging Facility/Local Store |
| 5:00pm | Time off |
| 6:00pm | Dinner |
| 7:00pm | Analyze your business clients / Preparation for Next Day Clients |
| 8:00pm | |
| 9:00pm | Time off |
| 10:00pm | Lights Out/Quiet Hours |
| Day 4 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Transport to Community |
| 9:00am | Client Consultation |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:00pm | Client Consultation |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | Transport to Lodging Facility/Local Store |
| 4:00pm | Deliverables Preparation |
| 5:00pm | |
| 6:00pm | Dinner |
| 7:00pm | Analyze your business clients / Preparation for Next Day Clients |
| 8:00pm | |
| 9:00pm | Time off |
| 10:00pm | Lights Out/Quiet Hours |
| Day 5 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Transport to Community |
| 9:00am | Education workshop implementation |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:00pm | Client Consultation |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | Transport to Lodging Facility/Local Store |
| 4:00pm | Final Deliverables Preparation |
| 5:00pm | |
| 6:00pm | Dinner |
| 7:00pm | Completion of Business Analysis, Business Analysis, Business Plan and Deliverables |
| 8:00pm | |
| 9:00pm | Time off |
| 10:00pm | Lights Out/Quiet Hours |
| Day 6 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Transport to Community |
| 9:00am | Group Presentations to Clients |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:00pm | Cultural Exchange |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | Transport to Lodging Facility/Local Store |
| 5:00pm | Time off |
| 6:00pm | Dinner |
| 7:00pm | Reflection ∧ Final Presentation |
| 8:00pm | Celebration |
| 9:00pm | |
| 10:00pm | Lights Out/Quiet Hours |
| Day 7 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Departure from Compound |
| 9:00am | Airport |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | |
Safety
Student safety will always be our absolute top priority. Global Brigades recently engaged Askari International Security, an industry leader in international risk assessment, to complete a comprehensive risk/safety assessment of all consulting program operations. A full explanation of safety precautions and procedures can be found on our “Safety & Insurance” page.
Lodging Facilities
Global Brigades does an annual safety review of all lodging facility partners each year. Lodging facilities provide pillows, bedsheets and towels. Facilities have showers, toilets and sinks with running water (no hot water) as well as filtered clean drinking water dispensers onsite. 24-hour security is provided at all facilities. Conditions are most similar to a comfortable summer camp, with dormitory-style sleeping and shared bathrooms.
Empowered Consulting Program is assigned to lodging facilities based on proximity to the partner community they will be working with.
The Log Cab Inn
The Log Cab-Inn lodging facility is located in the San Ignacio town at the Cayo District. Here, brigaders enjoy an eternal Summer like environment. This beautiful lodging facility offers cozy double and triple rooms plus with all accommodations, the amenity of having a swimming pool and a hiking trail.
Lindsay Lamberti
Business Brigade Volunteer, Carnegie Mellon University 2023
I went into this brigade with almost no business experience, so I was worried I would not be able to help or that I would be confused the whole time. My fears quickly melted away when we began to get to know the communities we were working with. Our clients were so generous, selfless, and welcoming. We got to learn about their culture and lifestyle. They shared their craft with us and were so eager to learn all they could about growing and expanding their businesses. Despite the language barrier, I formed such strong connections with these people, and I have gained an incredible new perspective of the world. I would not trade this experience for anything, and I cannot wait to go on my next brigade.