Kaya welcome pack 1

Welcome PackBelize San Ignacio

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Kaya welcome pack 2

Volunteer in Belize 3

Pre-departure checklist 4

Belize: An Overview 5

Geography and Climate 5

History 5

People and Culture 6

Where is Belize? 6

Belize – A to Z 7

Airport 7Flights 7

Airport Reception 7

Customs 7

Luggage 7

Banking and Money 8Conversion rate 8

Banking 8

City 8Transportation in Belize 9

Entertainment/Excursions 9

Shopping 10

Sport 10

Classes 10

Climate 10

Communication 10

Computers and Email 10

Cultural Adjustment 11

Donations 12

Dress 12

Electricity 12

Emergency Contacts 13

Health and Safety 13

Alcohol 13

General safety 13

Health care and Insurance 13

Traveller’s Diarrhoea 14

Vaccinations 14

Water 14

Housing and Meals 14

Mail 15

Orientation 15

Passport and Visa information 16

Project Commitment 16

Realities of Working in Development 17

Responsible Travel 17

Telephone 18International Calling 18

Time Zones 18

What to Bring 18Documents 18

Money 18

Other 18

Don’t Bring 18

Suggested list 18

Basic Language 19

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The most important step in preparing for your project is to keep a positive attitude and open mind throughout your experience. As you will soon discover, unlike tourist travel where resorts are set up to cater to the Westerner, travelling to the real heart of a foreign land often involves making many more adjustments. Meeting new people, eating different foods and managing your own affairs are some of the challenges you will face. Although the adjustments and challenges may seem overwhelming, just remember to be patient with yourself and others as you transition into your new cultural environment.

Our contact in Belize is Nancy Marin, member and she will take care of all your needs whilst you are in Belize including providing you with your orientation and support throughout your project. In the meantime, it is important that you familiarise yourself with this document as it provides important information for your upcoming trip and will answer many of the questions you may currently have. For any questions you have prior to your departure please continue to communicate with your Kaya advisor as this allows the on-grounds to devote more of their time to their projects.

Best of luck with your preparations and let us know if we can be of further assistance.

The Kaya Team

Volunteer in BelizeWelcome to Kaya Responsible Travel! We at Kaya want to make sure that your experience abroad is as full of learning about yourself and another culture as it is fun and adventurous. The following information should help prepare you for your journey ahead and hopefully answer some specific questions about the program in which you are participating.

EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATIONKaya Responsible TravelAddress: The ArchesNorth Campus IncubatorSackville StreetManchester M60 1QDTel: +44 161 870 6212

Nancy MarinVolunteer CoordinatorTel: +501 6714898Email: nefrymarin@gmail.com

Jaime MarinOffice tel: +5018244848

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Please read through this welcome pack in full prior to you departure - as there is valuable information inside. To get you started, here is your quick, at-a-glance checklist of the most important things you need to make sure to do.

Pre-Departure Checklist

Quick ChecklistMake sure you have a valid passport – note that your passport must have an expire more than 6 months after departure from your placement country.

Read this welcome pack thoroughly – there is important information inside!

Get your vaccinations – some vaccines have to be received up to a month before departure. It is your responsibility to ensure that your vaccinations are up-to-date. Consult with your GP or travel clinic

Book your flights – make sure your arrival (and departure) city and dates are correct

Check your visa requirements – if a visa in advance is required, this can take many weeks to arrange. If you are flying via the US you need to obtain an ESTA. It is your responsibility to do so.

Arrange travel insurance - Don’t just assume you are covered by any current health insurance

Complete the following forms - on your Kaya Community;•Skills•Travel•Health

Complete/provide additional documents – depending on your project choice, you may also be required to fill in or provide some of the following;

•Police background check•Passport copy•Dive medical form•Parental consent form (for under 18s)•CV/Resume

Look at fundraising options or start saving

Pay your program fees - these are due 8 weeks prior to your start date

Research your destination country –Kaya provide a basic overview of the country and your project, but the more you read and discover about your destination, the better prepared you will be for your trip.

Review your packing checklist

Photocopy important documents – take a set with you so you can keep your originals locked up safety at your accommodation,

Tell your bank you will be abroad – so they don’t block your cards when you most need them

Start a blog - you can do this on your Kaya community, so your friends and family can keep up with your adventures

Print out details for your loved ones - whilst you are off on your adventure they know how to get hold of you in an emergency, or just to check up on you.

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Belize - an overviewGeography and Climate

Formerly known as British Honduras, Belize is the most northern of the Central American countries.

Bordered on the north by Mexico, wrapped by Guatemala in the west and the south and an eastern coast on the Caribbean sea, this small country has one of the lowest population densities in the world with just over 300,00 people in an area the size of Wales, Switzerland or Massachusetts (though quickly catching up, with one of the highest population growth rates in the western hemisphere).

Belize is unique in the Americas as being the only nation with a British colonial history, and as a result of this Belizeans consider themselves more Caribbean than their geography amongst the Latin American countries would place them.

In the north, Belize is mostly covered in flat, swampy, plains and the occasional heavily forested area. In these, a surprisingly vast diversity of plant life exists in a relatively small area. In the south, the low Maya mountain range rises on its way into Guatemala. It is in Belize’s coastal waters however, that its most remarkable geography is found. The 320km long Belize barrier reef is second only to Australia’s Great Barrier reef in size and contain three of the four coral atolls found in the entire Western hemisphere.

Belize is truly a tropical country and its climate reflects this. The dry season is shorter in the south – lasting only 3 months from February to April. In the north, little or no rain falls between January and May. Overall the temperature has little variation, from an average of 24°C in January to 27°C in July

– higher inland, but lower in the high elevation region. The rainy season from June to December bring a lot more rain in the south, and also brings with it occasional Hurricanes, which over the years have had severe impacts on the country. The capital, which used to be Belize city, was moved eighty km inland to Belmopan in in 1960’s after the city was all but totally destroyed twice in under 30 years.

History

The name ‘Belize’ is thought to come from the ancient Mayan word ‘belix’, meaning ‘muddy waters’ of the ‘belix (Belize) river’. The Mayan people were the original inhabitants of the region and when the Spanish moved through the Americas, approaching from inland, Mayan attacks and rebellions fought them off, forcing them to eventually abandon their attempts.

English and Scottish fleets, looking for a position to attach Spanish ships, shipwrecked on the Belize coast in 1638 and found a local wood that acted as a fixing agent for clothes dyes. They began logging the area and early in the 1700s the Spanish granted the English the right to occupy the area in return for a treaty declaring the end of piracy. The British brought over African slaves from the nearby colonies in Jamaica and by 1800 African outnumbered the European settlers four to one.

The British Government were initially reluctant to establish an official in the country and recognise the settlement as a colony for fear of provoking the Spanish, so it was 1786 by the time a superintendent was appointed. By this time the settlers had already established their own laws and forms of government which the British government

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The second largest barrier reef in the world runs the length of the Belize coast and has far fewer crowds than Australia’s Great Barrier

Kaya welcome pack 6

found hard to break. The British countered Spain’s numerous attempts to take the territory, until their final victory in 1978, but were not so successful at controlling the settlers. Belize refused to accept the abolition of slavery in 1838 and the rich landowners set about establishing laws to prevent the slaves acquiring any wealth. It wasn’t until 1836 that the British declared the region ‘British Honduras’ and not until the great depression of the 1930’s, followed by a devastating earthquake in 1931, that a movement for independence began to rise up.

Britain granted the country self-government in 1964 and it was renamed Belize in 1973. Conflicts over ownership with Guatemala hampered independence effort for the following decade and while independence was reluctantly granted by Guatemala in 1992, to this day a British post remains in Belize to help control border disputes.

People and Culture

While its British heritage means that English is the official language of Belize, its history means that a number of ethnic groups, cultures and languages exist. While most of the early indigenous Mayan were wiped out by disease and conflict, their descendants still exist and make up about 11% of the population. The majority, however, are Mestizos who moved down from Mexico alongside the Spanish in the 1940s who make up respectively 34% and 12% of the population now.

Kriols make up 35% of the population and are the descendants of the African slaves and British settler. The lack of women meant interracial relations as well as rape of slaves was common and the term Kriole is applied to blonde, blue eyed residents right

as well as the lighter skinned blacks. The Kriole language is spoken by about 75% of the population. A smaller group, about 6% ,is made up of Garinagu, descendants of the 5 thousand darker skin African Caribs who were exiled by the British to an island off Honduras and returned to the mainland as soldiers for the Spanish.

This mix of heritages has led to a unique Belizean culture, and at the core of that culture is the importance of courtesy. In Belize, people greet each other in the street even if they have not met before, and for acquaintances to chat, oblivious to an obstruction they may be causing or what else might be going on around them. First names are generally not used until you know someone and youngsters address their elders with Miss or Mister and answer with Sir or Ma’am.

Belize can mainly be considered a Roman Catholic country, with 49% of inhabitants considered Roman Catholic. Protestant's account for 27% with the remaining 24% other religious beliefs.

Food-wise, Belizean food is similar to Mexican, with a lot of rice, beans and tortilla eaten. Breakfast is known as ‘drinking tea’, and many businesses shut down at midday for lunch and reopen later in the afternoon.

Where is Belize?

Belize claims to grow the sweetest oranges in the world, and exports them globally - including to areas that are famous for their own, such as Florida!

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Belize - A to ZAirport

Flights

Volunteers are responsible for making their own travel arrangements from their home to Belize City International airport (BZE). Volunteers should arrive and depart on a saturday. We suggest that volunteers arrive between 7.30 am and 9 pm. Departures can be at any time.

For those travelling from the UK, the flight stop will usually be in the US, like Houston or New York. The total flight duration to Belize is around 13 hours usually, but with a stop-over the total journey time is around 25 hours. Once you land in Belize you will be picked up by a Kaya representative and driven to San Ignacio.

To make things easier for you, as you look for the best flights, we have formed a partnership with STA travel worldwide. STA have exclusive special fares for students and for under-26s plus competitive open-to-all fares. So, whether you want to fly straight to the destination of your placement, or are thinking of getting a multi-stop or round the world ticket to take in a few sights on the way, they are able to provide a quote for you. The team is able to assist travellers from any country in the world, not just UK and US departures. You can use this service to book any of your onward travel - not just the flight you need to reach your Kaya projects.

You are under no obligation to book your flights through STA and are welcome to book your flights with any provider. If you would like the STA team to provide you with a quote, they can be contacted on the following dedicated telephone number or email address:

For UK participants:

    Tel: +44 333 321 3102

    Email: Kayavolunteer@statravel.co.uk

For USA participants: Tel: 800 221 3090     Email: Kayavolunteer@statravel.com

Please note, your local STA high street store, and main STA website will not have access to our

program details. This direct contact team are trained to incorporate our details into your itinerary so are the best people to contact for a quote.

As soon as you have made travel arrangements please send us your flight details by logging into your Kaya Community account and completing your Travel form. Please ensure that you fill this form is as early as possible to allow us enough time to make arrangements for your airport pick-up.

Airport Reception

A Kaya representative will meet you at Belize City airport holding a sign with your name on it after you have passed through the baggage claim area. Please send your itinerary and travel details as soon as possible so that we may ensure you will be met at the airport, if arriving on one of our pick up days.

Should you be unable to find your escort or have any other difficulties please contact our in country representative:Nancy MarinVolunteer CoordinatorTel: +501 6714898

Customs For entry into Belize, UK citizens must present valid passports that will not expire until after your departure, and a roundtrip/outbound ticket.

Some airlines may not permit passengers to board flights to Belize without such a ticket. Passports should be in good condition; Immigration will deny entry if the passport is damaged in anyway.

Tourist visas provided on arrival last for 30 days and extensions of 30 days are possible.

Upon arrival to the airport, please make sure you have filled out your Passenger Arrival Form (given out on the plane) and have it ready along with your passport. Where it says "Intended Address in Belize, please write:

Nefry's Retreat#2 Paslow LaneSan Ignacio, CayoBelize, C.A.

Luggage

If you are concerned about how much luggage you will be allowed to take on the flight, please contact your airline directly. They will have the most

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accurate information regarding number of bags and weight limits for your luggage.

Lost or stolen luggage policies on international flights are different than the domestic flight policies. On international flights, most airlines will compensate £5.00 ($8.75)per lb. for each piece of checked luggage, with a £350.00 ($612.50) maximum per piece. Some airlines have a policy that allows you to insure your luggage by declaring the value of your bag’s contents. In case they are lost or stolen by the airline, you will be required to present proof of purchase for the items in the bag. Most airlines are not liable for fragile, valuable, or perishable articles or for minor luggage damages such as scratches, dirt, scuffs, or dents resulting from the normal wear and tear.

We recommend that you call your airline before you leave and inquire about their lost/stolen luggage policy for international flights. If your luggage is missing, report this at baggage claim. They will give you a claim check and will deliver it to your residence.

Banking and money

Conversion rate The currency of Belize is the Belize dollar ($ BZE). The Belize dollar is pegged at $2 to $1 US dollar. One thing to remember is that it is difficult to change your money back from the Belize dollar to your home currency so don't leave yourself with too much money at the end of your trip.

For up to date conversions you can visit www.xe.com

Banking

Kaya recommends using your ATM/debit banking card from your home bank. Using ATM cards enables travellers to access personal bank accounts from any ATM machine around the world. The primary advantages of getting money from an ATM are 24-hour access and preferential exchange rates.

You must have a 4-digit pin. You should take care of this, as some banks take a long time to issue a new PIN. Many ATMs in Belize only accept cards that have the Cirrus, Plus, Visa, or MasterCard, symbol on the back of the card. American Express is not widely accepted. It is a good idea to have two options available— an ATM card and a credit card -

if you plan to use ATMs as your primary source of funds. Machines are compatible with most international credit cards, but on credit and debit cards there may be local bank charges incurred.

ATMs will automatically convert the money into BZE dollars for you. Please check with your bank as they may charge you a fee of up to £4.00 ($7) every time you use your card, on top of the local bank fee.

Before you leave home, check with the card issuer to determine exchange rates and commissions, so you'll have an idea of how much they are charging to handle your money. You can also ask for a list of machines that are within their system in Belize to avoid ATM "roaming charges.”

Kaya would also advise you to inform your bank and credit card company of the dates you will be away for, to prevent any security blocks

Travellers checks are difficult to cash in banks in the city. There are very few places that will cash them now. If you do bring travellers cheques make sure they are in dollars as they are easier to change.

Wire transfers using Western Union is relatively easy. There are Western Unions all over the place and if you have difficulties withdrawing money then family members can use Western Union and you can receive your money within an hour or two.

We suggest you exchange some money at the airport for you arrival and to last you a day or so until you identify a bank or ATM machine in the city, but we recommend you don’t carry large amounts of cash for security. It is also a good idea to have a second source of money that you can access if you lose or have problems with your main cash card

City

San Ignacio sits on the banks of the Macal River, a branch of the Belize River, 72 miles due west of Belize City, and 22 miles from Belmopan. It is surrounded by hills, a town of entrancing beauty.

Its beginnings go back approximately 100 years. But to this day it preserves a robust, pioneer atmosphere. The early settlers were mainly Mestizo and Maya immigrants from neighbouring Guatemala and a few Lebanese businessmen. The town has now embraced the former neighbouring village of Santa Elena, linked by the Hawkesworth

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suspension bridge. Nine miles to the west of the town lies Benque Viejo Del Carmen.

San Ignacio is the administrative centre of the Cayo District. It boasts a secondary school, three elementary schools, three filling stations, a government hospital, a cinema, small hotels, several clubs and a piped water supply. Radiating around its central park is the police station, public library and government offices.

Not far from San Ignacio are the Mayan centres of, Cahal Pech ("Place of the Ticks") and Xunantunich ("Maiden of the Rock").

Transportation in Belize

Belize has a fairly good public transport system. The main bus companies travel between major towns on a daily schedule. And minor companies travel from the towns to the outlying villages. Volunteers will be working [for now] mainly in the San Ignacio area and the furthest they'll have to travel is about 40 - 45 minutes to some of the outlying villages. The bus ride depending on what village they will be travelling to can be anywhere between 2 and 5 Belize dollars (£0.60-£1.60).

Within San Ignacio, one can also use the taxi services. The average taxi fare starts at 5 dollars and can go up to 10 Belize at most, within Town limits (£1.60 ($2.80)- £3.20 ($5.60)). Everything within town is in comfortable walking distance. These prices vary seasonally with fluctuations in petrol prices. At the moment, petrol is at about £6.86 ($12) dollars a gallon, very expensive.  

Entertainment/Excursions

Excursions are a fundamental part of the abroad experience that allows you to discover more about the country in which you are volunteering.

To enhance your cross-cultural experience in Belize, we encourage independent travel and are happy to provide you with support in lending whatever knowledge and experience we can to volunteers as you plan extra trips in and around Belize. The local team can book excursions for you in advance if you are keen to secure a place on a certain trip. Please speak to your Kaya Advisor about the available options.

Marine life and water sports are extremely popular in Belize with everything from fishing, sailing, diving and island tubing available for you to try in your spare time. Those of you interested in nature can hike, go horseback riding or bird watching.

Caracol is Belize’s premier archaeological site from Mayan times. it is set deep within the Maya Mountains and provides you with incredible views of the jungle. The site covers an area of nearly 25,000 acres and is impressive not just for its historic ruins but also its immense agricultural field system and city planning. Lamanai is a well-preserved mask of a May ruler emerging from a crocodile headdress, sight not to be missed.

Evening entertainment is diverse and there is much to do in Belize. Local theatre, cinemas, sports and nightlife are very popular. Local night clubs play local and international music and hotel bars offer outdoor parties. You will also be able to go to evenings where cultural dances, artists and games take place.

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Shopping

There are so few major stores in Belize, so few supermarkets and even fewer shopping malls that San Pedro is always a draw. If you want to go shopping in Belize we suggest you head for Ambergris Caye on the weekend when downtown San Pedro is closed to cars and then amble along Front Street and around Coconut Drive. Alternatively why not take a trip along Barrier Reef Drive and soak up the atmosphere, buy up some great souvenirs, browse the local art, sample the Belizean tastes and flavors and find some fantastic clothing, furniture and jewelry bargains.

Sport

Sports has always played a major part of Belizean culture. While Belize has never been an international sporting power, the nation's athletes have taken their discipline seriously. Sports in the country is plagued by a lack of finance and sporting facilities, and little emphasis on sports as an integral part of national culture and pride. Nevertheless, sports continue to unify Belizeans on and off the field. Some of the popular Belize sports include Belize football, basketball, cricket, softball and cross country cycling classic.

Belize also has plenty of opportunity for beach and water-sports , but for the diver, the chance to explore the unspoilt wonders of Belize’s barrier reef is not to be missed.

Classes

As Belize is English speaking, you will not need language classes. However, if you are interested in learning Spanish on your visit, you will have the

opportunity to participate in introductory or advanced Spanish lessons during your stay. Book these in advance for a reduced rate.

Climate

Belize weather features a temperate climate marked by two distinct seasons, the rainy and the dry. There is a notable transition from the one to the next. Rainfall during the rainy season occurs between June and November.

In San Ignacio, it is tropically hot and humid throughout the year, with the slightly cooler dry season from February to May.. Average temperatures at this time are around 28°C , rising to 31°C June until September.

Communication

Communication is very important while you are on your project. Questions often arise, for a number of reasons and sometimes things don’t go to plan. By raising questions and concerns in a timely manner they are much more likely to be resolved whereas if you wait until you get home, there is nothing that can be done to change things.

Sometimes volunteers contact family members who in turn contact Kaya and while we do understand that volunteers want to share information with family members, it is important that the in-country coordinator is informed. We are happy for a family member to take forward an issue on your behalf, but we have found that what may start off as a small issue can turn into something much bigger as communication breaks down – we don’t want a comment about a mosquito bite turning into someone being savaged by a bear!

There will be a in-country representative, either from Kaya or our partner organisation, depending on your location. They will be able to help answer many of your questions. If you are unsure who this is please ask. If you feel that your questions are not being answered then please contact Kaya Responsible Travel using info@kayavolunteer.com

Computers and email

Lowering costs have enabled easier access to technology, allowing Belize to become relatively well-connected to the rest of the world via the internet. All

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major cities and towns and some villages have basic email and computing facilities. San Ignacio has numerous internet cafés. The use of the computers costs $2-$4 US per hour.

We suggest you open a Skype account – it is free to set up, available on most internet cafe computers now, and is the cheapest way of speaking to family and friends at home.

If you choose to stay in our Volunteer House, there will be Wifi in the house so you may bring your own laptop to connect to the internet. Outside of this, you will need to use the internet in San Ignacio town for emailing and calling home.

Cultural adjustment

Culture Shock Culture Shock occurs as a result of total immersion in a new culture. You may be anxious because you do not speak the language (even in English speaking countries with their own strong accents/dialects), know the customs, or understand people’s behaviour in daily life. Volunteers find that “yes” may not mean “yes”, that friendliness does not necessarily mean friendship, or that statements that appear to be serious are really intended as jokes. You may be unsure as to when to shake hands or embrace, when to initiate conversation or how to approach a stranger. The notion of culture shock helps explain feelings of bewilderment and disorientation... difficulties in coping with the new society may arise.

When volunteers enter a strange culture you may feel like a fish out of water. You can feel at times that you do not belong and consequently may feel alienated from native members of the culture. When this happens, volunteers may want to reject everything about the new environment and may glorify and exaggerate the positive aspects of your own culture. The severity of culture shock depends on your personalities, language ability, emotional support, and duration of stay. It is also influenced by the extent of the differences, either actual or perceived, between the two cultures. There are recognised periods of adjustment and although the stages in the cycle do not always occur in the same order and some stages may be skipped, the following pattern is a common one.

The Adjustment Process in a New Culture

•Honeymoon Period -Initially people are fascinated and excited by everything new. The volunteer is elated to be in a new culture.

• Culture Shock -The volunteers becomes immersed in new problems: Housing, transportation, shopping, language. Mental fatigue results from continuously straining to comprehend the foreign language. Complaints are the first symptoms.

• Initial Adjustment - Everyday activities such as housing and shopping are no longer major problems. Although the volunteer may not be fluent in the language, basic ideas and feelings in the second language or new dialect can be expressed.

• Mental Isolation - You have been away from family and good friends for a long period of time and may feel lonely. You may still feel that you cannot express yourself as well as you can in your native culture. Frustration and sometimes a loss of self-confidence result. Some volunteers remain at this stage.

• Acceptance and Integration - A routine (i.e.-work, business or school) has been established. The volunteer has accepted the habits, customs, foods, and characteristics of the people in the new culture. You feel comfortable with friends, the classmates and culture of the country.

Re-entry Culture Shock: A similar process occurs when a person returns to their native country, although the states are usually shorter and less intense. It can be hard to express to family/friends about your experience and pictures/words can only do your trip so much justice. You can use your Kaya.net site to keep in touch with others returning from volunteering abroad to realise others have had the same experiences.

Some ways to combat stress produced by culture shock are:

•Be patient, the act of acculturating is a process of adaptation to new situations. It takes time

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•Learn to be constructive. If you encounter an unfavourable environment, don't put yourself in that position again. Be easy on yourself

•Learn to include a regular form of physical activity in your routine. This will help combat the sadness and loneliness in a constructive manner. Exercise, swim, take an aerobics class, etc.

•Relaxation and meditation are proven to be very positive for people who are passing through periods of stress

•Maintain some contact with your ethnic group. If you have someone you can turn to when you are frustrated who can understand your perspective you will reduce your feelings of alienation in context

•Maintain contact with the new culture. Learn the language. Volunteer in community activities that allow you to practice the language that you are learning. This will help you feel less stress about language and useful at the same time

•Establish simple goals and evaluate your progress

•Maintain confidence in yourself. Follow your ambitions and continue your plans for the future.

Donations

Volunteers, students and interns often want to make donations before, during or after their placement and we welcome that. However, we ask that you take the following points into consideration:

Before •ask us what the project needs. Often resources can be purchased locally and rather than having to pay for extra luggage allowance, it may be better to donate this money to the project or buy resources when you get there

•ensure that any resources that you donate are durable, in working order and culturally relevant e.g. clothing, books etc.

In-country•If you bring resources with you please be clear about whether you are donating them to the project to do with as they choose, or if you are

hoping/intending to use them during your placement.

•If you decide you want to buy some things for the project while you are there, check with the project what they most need, and try to make sure that you resource them locally, to put money back into the local economy.

•If you are asked to support a child please do not agree to do so unless you have explored the options with the in-country coordinator as it may be that one child or family is already receiving support that you don’t know about and it could be better to support another.

On your return home •If you promise to send money, donations or provide support for a family or the organisation when you return home, please ensure that you do so as you will have raised expectations.

Donations are always welcome and we encourage volunteers to maintain links with projects, homestay families and communities after they leave.

Dress

While the locals of Belize are generally quite relaxed about clothing, visitors are encouraged to follow a few rules. Avoid short shorts - a good rule of thumb is to keep shorts and skirts knee-length or longer and keep shoulders covered. For your projects you will need clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty, and can handle a bit of rough and tumble. Make sure you bring some closed-toed walking shoes as well.

Electricity

Please be considerate with the light and other electricity you use in your home-stays. Electricity in Belize is 110 Volts, alternating at 60 cycles per second. If you travel to Belize with a device that does not accept 110 Volts at 60 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter.

A good website that includes descriptions and photos of plug information is http://www.whatplug.net

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Health & Safety

Alcohol While you will be legal to drink if you are over 18 years of age, you should be cautious and careful. Though drinking alcohol, specifically beer and spirits, is part of everyday life in Belize, it is not to be abused. Also, know your limits. Nothing turns off a local more than a loud, drunk foreigner, and inebriation is neither safe nor healthy. What’s more, Kaya does not condone this type of behaviour, and excessive drinking and problems arising from it are grounds for dismissal from any Kaya programme.

The use of “rape drugs” is becoming more prevalent around the world, so, at parties or similar gatherings, never leave your drink (alcoholic or not) unattended, and never let someone you don’t know fix you a drink if you are unable to watch them.

General safety

While Belize is a safe country, the normal precautions should be taken to ensure your personal safety. You should be extra vigilant as a tourist in Belize as you may stand out as someone

who is wealthy and therefore become a target. You should take steps to adjust to the Belize way of life to ensure that your actions do not offend the local people.

The following are a few tips that you can follow to reduce the risk of running into trouble while abroad in Belize:

• Try not to walk around late at night in unknown areas

• Do not carry lots of cash • Do not wear flashy jewellery especially in busy

areas such as the market • Be wary about going out alone with people you

have only recently met • Pedestrians need to be extra careful. Check even

if light is red • Always carry a copy of your passport. The police

can check you at any time. If you don’t have it, they can take you to jail

• Carry backpacks, purses, etc. in front as much as possible

• Buses or crowed situations are good opportunities for thieves. Be especially careful on crowded buses.

•Always take a taxi after 9pm - these are cheap and easy to find.

Healthcare & insurance

Kaya requires all volunteers to provide proof of health insurance for the duration of their stay prior to arrival at your placement. The reason for this is that we have to be sure that you healthcare will be covered in case of emergency.

Some of you may already have your own private healthcare insurance but this very rarely covers healthcare in a foreign country and even if it does, it often doesn’t cover some of the activities that you will be doing whilst you are volunteering. Therefore, it is very important that when you arrange your travel insurance you speak to someone directly and make sure that the activities that you are taking part in whilst volunteering are covered by your insurance.

Europeans who choose to book your flights through STA then you are eligible to a 10% discount on their travel insurance. This insurance covers the vast majority of activities that take part on our volunteer projects. It is not suitable for wildlife

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EMERGENCY CONTACTSNancy MarinVolunteer CoordinatorTel: +501 6714898Email: nefrymarin@gmail.com

Jaime MarinOffice tel: +5018244848

Kaya Responsible TravelTel: +501 628 4498

British High Commission in BelizeEmbassy Square PO Box 91 Belmopan BelizeTel: (501) 822-2146 or 7Fax: (501) 822-2761Consular direct line (office hours) +501 822-3146Duty Officer (Out of hours for genuine emergencies only) +501 610-1045

US Embassy in BelizeFloral Park RoadBelmopan, CayoBelizePhone: +501 822-4011Fax: +501 822-4012

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projects though. If you would like us to recommend some companies that are suitable for wildlife projects then please contact your Kaya advisor.

While requirements for participation in Kaya projects specify proof of health insurance only, you may benefit from purchasing an insurance policy that also provides a level of cover for your personal belongings, travel delays, etc. in the form of a fully comprehensive travel insurance policy.

Travellers Diarrhoea

One of the realities of travel to another country is the potential for Traveller's Diarrhoea (TD). A change in diet and exposure to bacteria and parasites that foreigners are not accustomed to, typically leads to some level of stomach discomfort and diarrhoea. Travellers’ can minimize their risk for TD by practicing the following preventive measures: 1. Drink only boiled or purified water2. Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat or

seafood3. Avoid eating unpeeled, raw fruits or vegetables4. Avoid eating prepared foods that have been

left sitting out5. Wash your hands frequently, especially after

going to the bathroom and before eating.

The best methods of counteracting TD are healthy, hygienic eating habits and drinking plenty of fluids. If you do experience a bout of diarrhoea, it is best to stick to a BRAT style diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) until your stomach is once again ready for trickier foods. Consuming probiotics is often recommended as well. These replenish the good bacteria in your stomach and can most easily be found in yogurts made with live active bacteria cultures.

VaccinationsNo specific inoculations are required to travel to Belize. However, you will need to make sure your tetanus-diphtheria and measles booster are current. The Center for Disease Control recommends vaccinations for Typhoid, Hepatitis A and B, and Rabies.

Kaya’s programs in Belize programs are not in high malaria risk areas. Malaria medication is not

required but may be recommended by your doctor. Chloriquine is recommended by the CDC for Belize. We recommend that you consult a travel physician or your family doctor prior to the trip.

The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention or the WHO both have websites (www.cdc.gov and www.who.int/ith/ respectively) with up-to-date information. We recommends having available copies of any prescription you currently use for medication, eye wear, etc.

Travelling to a new country is going to be fun and exciting, however you must not forget the importance of your health whilst you are away. In many foreign countries, inevitably you will be exposed to different environments and face potential threats to your health. It is important not to worry about this as you are able to prepare for almost every eventuality pre departure. The first essential step in safeguarding yourself before travelling abroad is to visit a travel clinic or your local GP. There are many private travel clinics, the following websites are useful for seeking out your nearest one in the UK: http://www.travelhealth.co.uk/travelclinics/ and the US http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/travel-clinics.htm

Book an appointment at your earliest convenience, to allow yourself plenty of time to plan and prepare. Tell your doctor/nurse/advisor where you are staying and the nature of the work you will be carrying out. Also, be sure to make them aware of any additional medical issues you have as you may need to plan ahead for extra prescriptions. If you think you will need any specific health related requirements during your stay at the project then please contact Kaya to make us aware of this.

Water

Travellers’ to Belize should not drink the tap water unless it is boiled. We provide free access to purified or filtered water at your project and at your place of residence. Bottled water can be purchased at all local convenient stores. Bottled water from local companies is far less expensive than Nestle or Coca-Cola and equally as clean and delicious!

Housing and meals

The majority of volunteers stay in a volunteer house which is part of the old style Spanish family home of the volunteer coordinator. It is a in a great location just a few minutes walk from bars

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and shops. It is equipped with Wifi , screens on the windows and ceiling fans. In the very hot periods stand up fans are also available so please ask Nancy or another member of the team. We do ask that volunteers take into consideration that electricity is very expensive and fans and lights must not be left on when you are out. There is a bar area and a pool table so plenty to entertain you.

If you stay in the volunteer house you will be staying in dorms rooms with ensuites, sleeping between 2-4 volunteers per room. You will be provided with 3 meals a day and these will all be eaten together at the volunteer house. The house can house up to 15 people. If you want your own room you must enquire when you book. One may be available and an extra fee will be charged.

If you want access to air conditioning (most don’t need this) there is a separate room in the grounds which has a spa bathroom, screens on the windows and can sleep up to 3 people. Again, this may be

available but you will be required to pay extra, especially as air conditioning is so expensive to run. Please speak to a Kaya Advisor before you travel if you are interested in this option.

If you are staying for a longer period or are volunteering at a time when the main house is full, you may be places at another property owned by Nancy and her team which is located a few houses away. It is a large comfortable building where the Youth Foundation in owned and on the ground floor there a gym, office and a space where the science club is run. Upstairs, there is a kitchen/dining room, living room, long hallway, a communal bathroom and two bedrooms. The one used for volunteers has an ensuite bathroom. Volunteers who are on the standard volunteering package that stay here will eat their meals with the other volunteers and family at the main volunteering house. Longer term volunteers may have a separate arrangement regarding meals, so please refer to your placement information if you have made special arrangements..

We understand the need for individuals to pursue vegetarian options, and we do our best to accommodate this request. We ask you to be patient with them if they accidentally add meat to a meal or not understand vegetarian concepts. Asking someone to cook anything out of the ordinary requires a shift in culture and living styles, and therefore chances are this will be new to a family. Once during stay volunteers normally take it in turns to cook a meal from home. This is a fun event and most ingredients can be purchased locally. Any special ingredients should be included in your luggage to avoid disappointment!

Mail

The mailing address for friends and family to send along information is:

#3 Paslow Lane, San Ignacio Town, Belize

Please bear in mind that the postal system can be slow and therefore Kaya advises that volunteers only ask for items to be sent if they are urgent and they are staying for a long period of time.

Orientation

When you arrive at your destination, our on-site staff will provide you with a welcome orientation. This will cover important topics such as health,

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safety, academics, host families, cultural awareness, and end with a city tour.

Your orientation will take you through a number of details in regards to the city of San Ignacio, the surrounding areas and well as your placement and how your time will be spent in Belize. This is also a chance for you to gain a deeper cultural understanding of the country and the work that is being carried out with Kaya in Belize. This is also an opportunity for you to bring up and questions or concerns that you may have and to calibrate your expectations.

Your local coordinator will also be responsible for running through the details of how you get from your accommodation to your placement so you are comfortable with the methods of transport which you will need to take on a daily basis. During your orientation, you will also be introduced to your home stay family and your orientation will come to an end when you are personally taken to your project site and introduced to the team that you will be working with for the duration of your placement.

Passport and Visa information

Your passport and visa are extremely important. Make sure you keep them in a safe place. The passport is the most recognizable form of I.D. and you may be required to show it. However, it is not recommended that you carry your passport and visa around daily. Take a photocopy with you to carry on your person. If you lose your passport, contact your country’s Embassy immediately to get a replacement.

European Union, United States and Canadian citizens are able to receive ONLY a 30 day tourist visa on arrival in the airport. For participants staying longer than 30 days it is possible to extend this visa at Belmopan immigration for an additional 30 days for roughly a £20 ($35) fee.

Each volunteer is responsible for obtaining his/her own visa along with all the associated costs and Kaya are unable to secure work/volunteer visas for placements less than 6 months.

Should you need to apply for a visa prior to your arrival into Belize you may need to reference an address and contact details of where you will be staying. Please use the following details:

Nefry's Retreat#2 Paslow LaneSan Ignacio, CayoBelize, C.A.

Nancy MarinVolunteer CoordinatorTel:  +501 628 4498Visa websiteshttp://www.belizehighcommission.com/visas.htmAny volunteer flying to Belize via the US will need to complete an ESTA.at least 72 hours before travelling. To avoid unnecessary costs use the following linkhttps://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.html

If you are going to travel through another country, or stay overnight, you are responsible for checking and arranging the visa requirements for that destination.

Project Commitment

By signing up with Kaya you are committing to either studies or a volunteering placement. Volunteers, students and interns are required to fulfill their working hours and should adhere to the following:

•arrive on time, let their project contact know if they are going to be late

•call in if they are sick, also advising their in-country coordinator

•ask for time off in advance, if there is a need to organise a visa extension

We always encourage volunteers, students and interns to get to know the country in which they are based, and to grab the opportunities for independent travel. However, these activities should be arranged outside of the working day / week. If you wish to travel, please use the weekends and build extra travel time into your stay. Kaya and its partners do not permit participants to replace working time with independent travel except on longer term placements and with the agreement of the local project team, so please take this into consideration when booking your flights and planning your trip.

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Realities of working in Development

In an ideal world everything would go to plan. However, when working in a developing country where there are many challenges placements and activities don’t always go to plan. Some examples are:

•teachers may not turn up to class on an education project - this may be because a child is sick, there is no childcare alternative and no substitute teacher is available

•electricity may not be available when you are running a presentation while working at an NGO

•an unexpected national holiday is announced resulting in the project closing - governments often announce these at the last minute especially if a member of a royal family dies or a political event occurs

•the translator is unavailable and no-one else is free to help that day

•projects are under-resourced and there are no funds to buy more / the ones that you need

•the weather prevents a building / environmental project from going forward or participants being able to attend project activities

•an emergency situation arises on an animal welfare project and you may be asked to help out or you may not be skilled enough to help leading to your planned activity not taking place that day

These are legitimate reasons why your project may not go to plan. No matter how much you plan, in developing countries there are barriers to making progress, some of them human some of them environmental. The projects that Kaya works with have committed to working with volunteers and

have a genuine need for your assistance.

Kaya asks that you remain patient, try to use your initiative and find other ways to achieve your goals and use your time. Always share your issues in a constructive manner with your project contact and look for an alternative solution / way forward. It may be that you will be asked to work on something else for a period of time until the problem is resolved. This will result in your time being used constructively and benefit the project.

Responsible Travel

Kaya’s mission is to promote sustainable social, environmental and economic development, empower communities and cultivate educated, compassionate global citizens through responsible travel. To help us achieve this we ask that you consider and try to adhere to the following:

•respect local customs

•be considerate when using water; supplies are often limited

•the cost of electricity is fairly high so please be sensible about your usage

•use local transportation to support local business

•buy “local” rather than buying imported international items

•by all means buy souvenirs but avoid items that are made from products or by-products of endangered or threatened species

•avoid bringing plastic items that you will need to dispose of as often there is not the rubbish collection or recycling facilities in place and therefore will lead to pollution

•do not give money, sweets or food to street children; you will make much more of a difference if you donate to a local charity that supports their families.

By implementing the above we hope not only to encourage Kaya volunteers to travel responsibly but to educate other volunteers and the communities in these responsible travel practices.

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Telephone

There are two numbers that volunteers can give to family as a contact but please bear in mind that there should be used outside of volunteer placement hours. The lines are shared so please be considerate about usage. They are +501 628 4498 and +501 6041067.

If you wish to dial out cheap mobile phones can be purchased and sold on, as well as SIM cards that will allow phones access for calls. This is a cheap and convenient option that will make things here much easier and cheaper. To use your own mobile ensure it has triband and has been unlocked. Internet cafes usually have telephones available as well where you will be able to make international calls.

International Calling The international country code for Belize is 501. To call from a mobile phone simply add +501. To call from a UK landline dial 00501 and 011501 from the US. If you are from any other country to are unsure about what to dial, take a look at this website:

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/dialing.html

Timezones

Belizean time is 7 hours behind British standard time.

What to bringDocuments

It is especially important to make multiple copies of your passport. Leave one at home and take the others with you in separate luggage (in case one piece gets lost). Any medical records indicating special, pre-existing conditions are important to bring as well. Important: Carry all of these on your person until you get to where you are going in case your luggage is lost.

Money You should bring some money with you and have access to additional money. How much depends on your lifestyle. Both accommodation options in Belize whether you choose to stay in our home stay or volunteer house will include 3 meals a day,

so you will just need to budget a little extra if you decide to go out for dinner one evening, or decide to take your host family out for a meal! Everyone will need money for travel/transportation, entertainment, incidentals, phone calls, going out, shopping and any souvenirs.

Other

Pictures of family and friends are always a good idea. You might also bring a journal to write in and keep memories of this fantastic experience that you can reflect on later. You might also bring some favourite CDs or an MP3 Player.

Don’t Bring Food, pets, winter clothing, electrical goods that need a converter (unless you have a converter and adapter for them), live plants, more than GBP. £4000 / $6400 cash (travellers or bankers checks are OK.), valuables, or an overabundance of toiletries that you can get in Belize (Kleenex, toothpaste, tampons, etc.) as they just take up space in your luggage.

You will not need cold weather clothing in Belize. One sweater will be enough unless you plan on travelling outside the area.

The golden rule about packing is to lay out everything you want to bring, and then take half. You will most likely bring back souvenirs, clothing, gifts for friends/family, etc. so you will be grateful for the extra space in your suitcase!

Suggested list

Personal Items and Gear

Money belt or money necklace

Camera and film/extra memory cards

Medications regularly needed

Toiletries

Personal hygiene products .

Travel towel

Small first aid kit

Sunscreen and lip salve

Sunglasses

Small torch/flashlight

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Rechargeable batteries and charger

Daypack

Internal or external frame backpack

Water bottle

Watch or travel alarm clock

Journal or diary

Hiking/walking shoes for treks

Sandals

Socks

Underwear

Lightweight trousers

Shorts

Short sleeve shirts / T-Shirts/Light long sleeve shirts

Sweater/Fleece

Swimsuit

Baseball cap, hat or visor

Rain jacket

Binoculars

Basic Kriol Language

While English is the official language of Belize, many visitors are interested in the more commonly spoken Kriol language.

Kriole originated as a derivative of English spoken by the early African slaves - a pidgin of their home African languages, the local Miskito language and the English of their captors.

While at first it may sound like just heavily accented English, there are many kriol specific words, and often confusingly different meanings for familiar English terms.

The Kriol language has no past tense, so you will hear “fry chicken” and “stew fish”.

Here are a few Kriol phrases to help you on your way:

Basic Words & Greetings in Kriol

Weh di go aan? = Hello!/ What’s up? (informal)

Gud maanin.= Good morning!

Wap a li Kriol = Speak a little Kriol

Da how yu di du? = How are you?

Aarait. = Fine, thank you.

Weh yu nayhn?. = What is your name?

Ah nayhn (or) Mee naym …= My name is...

Humoch dis kaas? = How much does his cost?

Weh taim yu gat? = What time is it?

Ah mi gat wahn gud gud taim.= I had a great time.

Fu chroo? = Is that so ?

Ih noh mata. = It doesn’t matter

Gud-gud! = Good, fine.

Ah sari = I am sorry.

Dat okay = It’s okay.

Choh! = Exasperated expression; “I don’t want to hear it!”

Haul your rass! = Get the hell out of here!

Dat da lone rass! = That’s rubbish !

Belly full, boti glad! = Declaration after a good meal.

Stap u rass! = Shut your mouth; stop your foolishness.

Kohn ya! = Come here!

Madda Fiyah! =Gosh darnit!

Mek ah tel yu sumting = Let me tell you something.

We gwan bash tonight. = We’re gonna party tonight.

How much pikni yu got? = How many children do you have?

Mutha fry chicken = Idiot

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