Belize City, Belize

Belize is a beautiful country located in Central America, bordered on the North by Mexico, on the West by Guatemala, and on the East by the Carribbean Sea.

Formerly known as British Honduras, Belize was the UK's last colony on the American mainland, and still maintains strong ties with Britain as a member of the Commonwealth. Like many Caribbean nations, tourism plays a major role in the economy of Belize, along with agriculture, fishing, and forestry.

41% of the population lives below the poverty line, and the country faces challenges related to poverty, waterborne illness, and trafficking in persons and narcotics. 25% of the country’s population lives in the former capital, Belize City.

The Work

It has been Help One Now’s aim to come alongside high capacity local leaders who are already working to transform their communities. We partner with these leaders to provide the resources to dream big, and impact even more lives!

Nigel and Julie Miguel are such high capacity leaders. Through their organization, Water Walkers International, vulnerable youth are being empowered economically, socially, and spiritually.

Water Walkers primarily works to empower children through education programs. They target children from vulnerable families to ensure they have a foundation for a better future.

Their program focuses on increasing literacy, as well as computer proficiency. They believe “an educated person with technological skills can better compete in the workforce and make positive contributions to our great nation.” Mentorship also plays a key role at Water Walkers, where each youth has a positive adult relationship to support and encourage them toward their fullest potential. On top of that, children are able to exercise their creativity by participating in sports, music, and dance! Water Walkers provides nutritious meals 7 days a week to the children in their programs, knowing that for many this could be their only nutritious meal of the day.

Family Empowerment

Along with the great work they are already doing, Julie and Nigel are adding to their tool-kit to fight poverty by coming into partnership with Help One Now and launching a Family Empowerment Program in Belize City.

Family Empowerment is the perfect fit to come alongside the work being done through Water Walkers. Nigel and Julie are already working hard to see children thrive, and together we dream that the next step will be to empower their entire families.

To date, we have enrolled over 400 families in our Family Empowerment Program in Ethiopia with an average increased income of approximately 300% — and many of these families now have 2-3 years of self-sufficiency under their belt! Not only does the program help families to thrive, but it ripples outward into the community as families grow their businesses, create even more jobs, and pour into the local economy.

In 2019 Help One Now is expanding this program beyond Ethiopia, into communities communities all around the world! Join our Help One Now Family to see empowerment take place in Belize City.