Wednesday, January 27, 2010

About Belize

Belize is a country in Central America (south of Mexico) with a population of about 320,000 people (one of the lowest population densities in the world). The capital city is Belmopan. The country is about the size of the state of New Hampshire. It is divided into 6 districts. Corozal and Orange Walk, the districts where most of our work is taking place, are in the northern part of the country.

Belize is bordered to the south and west by Guatemala, the north by Mexico, and the east by the Caribbean Sea. The Caribbean coast is lined with a coral reef and some 450 islets and islands known locally as cayes (pronounced "keys"). They form the 200 mile long Belize Barrier Reef, the longest in the Western Hemisphere and the second longest in the world after the Great Barrier Reef. Three of merely four coral atolls in the Western Hemisphere are located off the coast of Belize.

Once a part of the Mayan and briefly the Spanish Empire, it was most recently a British colony known as British Honduras. Belize gained independence in 1981. It is considered a parliamentary democracy. The Belizeans elect a prime minister who leads the government. English is the official language, however, most people here speak Spanish. Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official language.

Agriculture is the main industry. Across the country, sugar cane grows as far as the eye can see. Sugar accounts for nearly half of all exports, while the banana industry is the country's largest employer. Tourism is a growing industry. A combination of natural factors - climate, the Belize Barrier Reef, excellent fishing, numerous rivers for rafting and kayaking, jungle and wildlife reserves of fauna and flora, as well as, many Maya ruins - support the thriving tourism and ecotourism industry. It also has the largest cave system in Central America.

Unfortunately, Belize is a very poor country. About 50% of the people here do not have access to doctors, nurses or hospitals. Two-thirds earn less than US$4,500 each year. And most children suffer from malnutrition. Our objective while here is to help as many Belizeans as possible through medical assistance including checkups, vitamins, medications, and surgeries, as well as, home construction and vacation Bible school.

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