One weekend, we camped in the park and went on an eight hour hike the next morning to experience the park. Featured in the photo from left to right: Tristan Eddy, Mackenzie Albright, Brooke Williard, Ella Baker, and Lily Hunt.
Author: Brooke Williard | Major: Accounting | Semester: Summer 2024
Spelunking through caves containing Mayan artifacts, climbing a waterfall during an eight-hour hike, and petting both a shark and a stingray: all things I never imagined doing while studying abroad. The uniqueness of my experience in Belize does not stop there. While most study abroad programs involve taking classes, my experience allowed me to get hands-on experience in community development. That is exactly why I decided to do Special Projects in Belize with Dr. Farmer.
While living in Dangriga, the Cultural Capital of Belize, I interned with the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA). This nonprofit organization serves to aid private sector businesses through advocating on their behalf to the government, providing them with more resources, hosting collaboration events such as forums and workshops, and marketing businesses throughout Belize. The organization is headquartered in Belize City with smaller chapters throughout the country. The BTIA Dangriga chapter, the chapter I interned for, is often overlooked because Dangriga is not known as a tourist destination in Belize. Many travelers pass through the area while on their way to the Cayes, as Dangriga has a regional airport along with ports off its coast that grant access to many private islands. However, Dangriga is a place with immense potential for tourism. Geographically, Dangriga is on the coast with the jungle only a 40-minute car ride to the west and the second largest reef in the world a 40-minute boat ride to the east. The biggest highlight of the area is its culture. Dangriga is where the Garifuna people originally settled in Belize, and the residents living there are proud of this heritage. The culture is full of drumming, dancing, and craft making. This area is the perfect hub for a tourist to experience all Belize has to offer: its culture, jungle, and reefs. Because of this potential, the government is opening a port near the town for small cruise ships to dock. While there is a lot of promise for the area, the town is simply not ready for an influx in tourism at its current state. During my internship, I worked on multiple projects to help the town and its businesses prepare for increased tourism in the near future.
Our group of four interns was given two main tasks for the summer: to develop a membership campaign and conduct a needs assessment. To tackle these projects, we held meetings with over 20 local businesses and artisans. The meetings allowed us to build relationships with community members while also letting them share their perspectives to add to our needs assessment. Some of these meetings were with established businesses who found success in Dangriga. They shared their perspective on what made them successful while also providing input on how the town could improve. Others were with microbusinesses who sold out of homes or on the streets. Many microbusinesses were local artisans. These meetings were essential, as the Garifuna have a rich history in different crafts; we wanted to ensure that these individuals had a voice in the business community. These meetings became the backbone for our projects. They allowed us to develop a comprehensive needs assessment that represents many perspectives from the community. This needs assessment was presented to the mayor and the area representative, which gave the local government a better perspective from stakeholders in the tourism industry. These meetings also led to a great turnout of 33 business owners at the forum we held to educate residents of the plans the Belize government has regarding tourism development. This forum was held one week before the end of our internship, which allowed us interns from the University of Arkansas to present our needs assessment to the community. We received positive feedback during the networking session afterward while also hearing new perspectives of additional needs for the community. This forum also encouraged businesses to join the BTIA, which provides businesses with an immense number of resources. Through our membership campaign efforts, we increased membership by 50%. While this internship was only eight-weeks, I am proud of the work us four interns accomplished while abroad.
Interning with the BTIA gave me a new perspective of business. The Dangriga chapter was constantly overlooked in the overall plans for the BTIA, yet the volunteers at this destination never gave up. They believed in the potential for the town and truly cared for their community and culture. Often in the United States, only the largest stakeholders get a seat at the table. The BTIA Dangriga chapter gave a voice to businesses who most would overlook simply because they do not have an established location or brand. They recognized that the potential for business in Dangriga does not lie in resorts and touristy restaurants; it lies in the culture that makes Dangriga truly unique. The artisans and local microbusinesses are what keep the culture alive. I feel truly lucky to have gotten the chance to work with these businesses. I had the opportunity to hear their stories and to get to know these business owners at a personal level. It made the work I was doing much more fulfilling.
Through this internship, I discovered my passion for working with small businesses. It affirmed that I hope to one day work with nonprofit organizations and small businesses. Through making personal relationships with business owners, I recognized that business felt much more meaningful at a smaller scale. It allowed me to feel like I was truly making a difference in the community and allowed me to walk away with relationships that I will carry for the rest of my life. I am excited to one day return to Dangriga and experience all the changes that the community will encounter.