Working as a service provider to the EU-funded BRDP, Plenty Belize is managing a microgrant project for the Toledo District.

In the period from March to October 2007, Plenty Belize gave out approximately 50 microgrants (maximum size BZ$1,000 or US$500) to assist with starting or improving small businesses for the poor in the rural areas.

Priority wais given to single parents, elderly, youths who are helping to support siblings, and to the disabled.

The number one development need throughout Toledo is economic opportunity. Recently, 41 people in the village of San Jose attended the first day of micro-enterprise training organized by the Belize Enterprise for Sustainable Development (BEST).

Mack Petors of BEST taught most of the sessions on subjects such as entrepreneurship, introduction to business planning and marketing. I taught a session on conflict management. Conflict management is essential for working in groups, and is something that I did as part of teaching high school years ago.

It has also been one of the “appropriate technologies” that Plenty has always emphasized. Candido Chun of Sustainable Harvest International provided translation as needed. Candido and I have been going to monthly “Mentoring” meetings held by BEST.

Their goal is to foster micro-enterprise in Belize, and they are using “mentors” to help identify who or what groups could benefit from the trainings they offer. We had suggested several groups in San Jose village that had come to us for support, and BEST opened up the training to include anyone who wanted to attend.

Several farmers groups, several crafts groups, a woodworking (furniture) group, and corn mill group came for the San Jose training. We have a follow-up meeting scheduled in San Jose on Sept 5th, and another training session planned for October.