Fall Bulletin 2006 Vol. 22, No.3

Articles:

Introduction
The Gulf: One Year Later
Plenty Belize GATE Program
News from Plenty Austin (includes an update on Central American projects)
Kids to the Country
Growing Plenty

In the last days of August Plenty Belize staff installed a see-saw powered water pump at Golden Stream Government School. As the children play, they are now pumping water into two durable plastic tanks located on top of the concrete school building. Water from the tanks is being piped to the school kitchen and to the two school garden sites. Thanks to the Belize Ministry of Agriculture for donation of a length of 6-inch pipe.

“This is a great idea! The school should have done it a while ago. Easier for kids so they don’t have to carry water.” – Santiago Pop, villager

“It is a genuine concept that is effective for the community” – Teacher Tillet

“Useful for school kitchen and the cooks. Very helpful towards dry season for gardens too!” – Principal

“Easier for us and fun to play!” Nathan Cal, student

September 4, 2006 started off a new school year for the primary school students of Belize. Twenty-three of the primary schools in Toledo will have a school garden program this year. Our GATE Program staff will be visiting 19 of these schools on a weekly basis.

We have been fortunate to receive a grant of US $25,000 from Belize’s Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) to support GATE activities in the Toledo villages of San Antonio, San Pedro Columbia, Big Falls and San Marcos. And many thanks and hugs to our good friends at Spiral Path Farm in Loysville, PA who put on a “musical feast” fundraiser in August and raised over $3,000 for us.

Plenty Belize has been playing a key role in the Women’s Issues Network of Belize as it expands to include a regional network hub in the Toledo District. Initial meetings have been held with WIN, Plenty, Toledo Maya Women’s Council, Belize Family Life Association, Women’s Department, Chairladies Fajina Association along wilth several village women’s groups.

Plenty Belize organized and held a raffle for a local student to get her books and fees paid so she can attend Julian Cho Technical High School this school year. Congratulations to Miss Darina Lopez, who is starting “3rd Form,” her third year at JCTHS.