By Alan Schultz
Spring 2023 Newsletter

P4P Belize has several community outreach programs aimed at aiding people throughout Belize City and other parts of the country. The following pieces are descriptions of these programs that illustrate how P4P Belize goes beyond distributing bicycles in their community.

Employment

The sale of bicycles overseas is crucial to Pedals for Progress and our international program’s success. P4P Belize employs young men as sale associates who help Derrick move the items throughout the city, ensuring they reach the people that need access to transportation.

The sales process involves a range of strategies, from larger street market sales to smaller individual transactions arranged through word of mouth or online advertisements. The sales reps earn a commission on the sale of the bikes, with a recommended starting price set by Derrick. This gives the salesmen incentive to maximize their efforts and help Derrick distribute the hundreds of bikes that we send him.

This employment program gives the young men a steady job, reducing the likelihood of them looking for other ways to make their money on the streets. They also aid Derrick in numerous roles within the organization when there is down time while bike sales are slow. By empowering these young men with employment and valuable skills, we not only contribute to their personal growth but also strengthen the overall impact of our mission in Belize.

Feeding Programs

Food insecurity is an issue on a global scale. No matter the direct cause, when families and individuals struggle to get food, becoming self-sufficient is exceedingly difficult.

P4P Belize has a feeding program that reaches out to families who are unable to provide enough food for their households. P4P Belize identifies these families and helps by providing chickens or pigs, which helps alleviate the burden of securing regular meals. Without the daily stress of finding their next meal, families can focus on other crucial responsibilities and pursue employment opportunities. This, in turn, enables them to save more, improve their financial situation, and create a pathway to a better future.

The food provided through this program is partially funded by bike sales. P4P Belize also makes the time to check back in with these families to ensure that their needs have been met sufficiently. This ongoing engagement helps us build strong relationships and ensures that the program has a lasting impact.

Medical Aid

Prior to partnering with P4P, Derrick acquired buses and an RV from the United States through another charitable organization he has partnered with. Driving them down to Belize himself, Derrick was able to get the vehicles into Belize. From there, he has used them for several projects.

Derrick uses them to transport and distribute medical supplies to community members in need. With the size and mobility of the buses and RV, Derrick ensures that essential healthcare resources reach those who require them most. This initiative plays a crucial role in improving access to medical assistance and addressing healthcare disparities in the region.

While not in use for aid, Derrick rents the buses to visiting programs from the United States to earn a passive income. Income generated by the bus rentals are used to offset programs like the feeding programs and other charitable causes. The concept of offsetting program expenses, which P4P advocates for, was already being implemented by P4P Belize in a different context.

Aguacate, Sewing

Partnering with other outreach organizations, Derrick can access more remote areas of the country rather than strictly focusing on Belize City. Derrick has helped set up a small sewing operation in the remote village of Aguacate with the help of Toledo Outreach Center that frequently helps the small community.

During my visit I was able to be present during the day we donated 20 sewing machines to the villagers and a bicycle to the chief. Kicking off this program we met with the women and expressed out gratitude and detailed what we hope to achieve.

The women in Aguacate are being trained by a woman named Maria Coe who works with the Outreach Center on sewing projects specifically aimed at educating single women how to sew. Through this training program and using the machines provided we will be able to make a lasting change to how the community can earn more.

Going to and from the small village is done only a few times a week when buses bring community members to the nearby town of Punta Gorda on the coast. It is our hope through the sewing program that once the women are trained, they will be able to make repairs to clothing making trips to town less frequent. It will also give the women opportunities to make their own clothes and other merchandise to sell within the village and in town when they do make the trip.

Prison Sewing

The Fall 2022 newsletter has an article on the P4P Belize Sewing Program in the Belize Central Prison. On January 27th 2023 Derrick and I were able to make the starting donation of 20 sewing machines to fully kick start the program. Through his connections with other charitable organizations, Derrick will be able to provide the prison with a volunteer sewing teacher to lead class sessions. Part of a successful reform for incarcerated people requires a reinvestment in the people that found themselves behind bars. Educational aid gives people in Belize Central Prison a chance to continue to better themselves once they are done serving their time. Educating people within prison, giving them tangible skills, makes it easier for them to become productive citizens once outside the walls. If they can use their specialized skill such as sewing, they have a better chance of finding employment. They then will be far less likely to become repeat offenders. In turn this creates a safer nation with a more vivid economy.