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International Friends of Belize
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International Friends of Belize (IFOB) is a US-registered, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...

 with two functions: 1. to provide a forum of communication for those interested in the social development of Belize, and 2. to provide an effective conduit of support to community-based development projects in Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...

. Since its inception in 2004, IFOB has grown significantly in both membership and funds raised. In 2005 the first scholarship program was created in Stann Creek. In 2006 IFOB's scholarship program was expanded to include Corozal district, and in 2006 nearly 20 Belizean students received full scholarships to attend secondary school.

First Function: Forum for Communication

IFOB members receive a quarterly newsletter, "The Cho Quarterly" updating them on IFOB activities, information related to Belize, and other information relevant to current and past volunteers from agencies active in Belize, such as: Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...

, Jesuit Volunteer Corps
Jesuit Volunteer Corps
The Jesuit Volunteer Corps is an organization of lay volunteers who dedicate one year or more to voluntary community service working with people in need--the homeless, abused women and children, immigrants and refugees, the mentally ill, people with HIV/AIDS and other illnesses, the elderly,...

, Voluntary Service Overseas
Voluntary Service Overseas
Voluntary Service Overseas is an international development charity that works through experienced volunteers living and working as equals alongside local partners. It is the largest independent volunteer-sending organization in the world...

, Japan International Cooperation Agency
Japan International Cooperation Agency
The Japan International Cooperation Agency is an independent governmental agency that coordinates official development assistance for the government of Japan...

,the Canadian University Students Overseas (CUSO
CUSO
CUSO was founded June 6, 1961 as Canadian University Service Overseas . It was a Canadian non-profit organization that provided volunteers to aid in the development of Third World countries. In 2008, CUSO merged with VSO Canada to become CUSO-VSO...

), and others.

Second Function: Conduit of Support

The second function is achieved through IFOB's two main programs—The IFOB Scholarship Program and the IFOB Community Grant Program. These programs are both supported through IFOB membership dues and outside donations. Since IFOB is completely ran by volunteers, 96 cents of every dollar received directly support IFOB projects in the communities of Belize.

IFOB Scholars Program

While secondary school (high school) education is increasingly necessary to enter and compete in the Belizean job market, many Belizean families are forced to choose which of their children, if any, they can afford to enroll in secondary school. Secondary school fees and related costs are relatively high in Belize (between US$400–500 per year), and for many Belizeans secondary school is simply unaffordable. One-third of Belizean children do not make it past primary (elementary) school.

The IFOB Scholars Program offers opportunity to escape the cycle of poverty that plagues a large segment of Belizean society by providing the means for Belizean children to attend secondary school.

The IFOB Scholars Program was established in 2005, with an aim to providing secondary school scholarships to needy and deserving students in Belize. In the first three years, IFOB funded 33 students with full scholarships in Stann Creek District
Stann Creek District
Stann Creek District is a district in the south east region of Belize. According to the 2010 census, the district had a population of 32,166 people...

 and Corozal District
Corozal District
Corozal District is the northernmost district of the nation of Belize. The population was 33,335 as of 2000. The district capital is Corozal Town.-The Villages of Corozal District:...

. In 2008, a pilot "Service Scholarship" program was started in Toledo District
Toledo District
Toledo District is the southernmost district in Belize, and Punta Gorda the District capital. Although the least developed region in the country, it features some of the most pristine rainforests, extensive cave networks, coastal lowland plains, and offshore cays...

, tying community service responsibilities with award of multi-year scholarships.

The IFOB Scholars program is implemented on a school-by-school basis, with memorandums of understanding (MOU) signed between interested school administrators—typically by the school principal—and IFOB. Using this model, IFOB has signed MOU with a half dozen secondary schools in Stann Creek, Orange Walk, and Toledo Districts.

IFOB Community Grant Program

IFOB established a Community Grant Program in 2006, to provide small grants to community-based development projects in Belize in the areas of education, environment, and health. The first year, IFOB awarded three grants: to Cornerstone Foundation in Cayo District
Cayo District
Cayo District is a district in the west of the nation of Belize. The District capital is the town of San Ignacio.- Geography :The Cayo District is the largest district in Belize. It is located on the western side of the country which borders Guatemala. The nation's capital, Belmopan, is...

 to fund a youth-centered HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention project, as well as grants to a Belize City
Belize City
Belize City is the largest city in the Central American nation of Belize. Unofficial estimates place the population of Belize City at 70,000 or more. It is located at the mouth of the Belize River on the coast of the Caribbean. The city is the country's principal port and its financial and...

 after-school chess club and an environmental project in Seine Bight village. Thanks to increased membership support, in 2007 the IFOB Community Grants Program is doubling grants to US$1,000 per award.

History

IFOB was started in the spring of 2004 by a group of returned Peace Corps volunteers who had all served in Belize. Founding members included: Jeffrey Cleveland, Kristi Drexler, Robin Mardeusz, Maya Ravindranath, Sarah Reynolds, Sandy Roter, Donna Statler, Maura Varley, and Brenda (Link) Williams. By April, 2004, the initial steering committee was formed, bylaws were written, 501(c)(3) applications and paperwork were submitted, and two small seed grants were secured—one from the National Peace Corps Association
National Peace Corps Association
-Overview:Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Washington, DC, the National Peace Corps Association is the nation’s leading 501 nonprofit organization supporting Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and the Peace Corps community through networking and mentoring to help guide former Volunteers...

 (NPCA), with which IFOB is affiliated; and the other from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...

.

Since inception in 2004, IFOB has grown significantly in both membership and funds raised. In 2005 the first scholarship program was created in Stann Creek District
Stann Creek District
Stann Creek District is a district in the south east region of Belize. According to the 2010 census, the district had a population of 32,166 people...

. In 2006 IFOB's scholarship program was expanded to include Corozal District
Corozal District
Corozal District is the northernmost district of the nation of Belize. The population was 33,335 as of 2000. The district capital is Corozal Town.-The Villages of Corozal District:...

, and the Community Grants Program was established. By 2008, 33 Belizean students had received full scholarships to attend secondary school, and a handful of community organizations had received grants in the area of health, education, and environment. During this time IFOB has also initiated two reunions of returned Peace Corps volunteers from Belize—one in the summer of 2004 and one in the summer of 2007.

IFOB's board of directors has gone through two elections, with other volunteers joining on an ad hoc basis to serve on various committees—including the fundraising committee, membership committee, program committees, etc. While a number of the founding members continue to serve on the board of directors, new board members have joined as well.

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