Volunteer Opportunities in Belize

Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center looks after orphaned, rescued, donated, and rehabilitated wild animals. Photo © Adalberto H. Vega, licensed Creative Commons Attribution.

There are many opportunities for volunteering in Belize. Here is a sampling of a few well-known organizations.

Animals

• SAGA Society Belize in San Pedro helps homeless and suffering dogs, cats, and other animals on Ambergris Caye.

Archaeology

• Programme for Belize is a Belizean-run organization which manages the 260,000-acre Rio Bravo Conservation and Management area. Volunteer opportunities in conservation and archaeology are available at its two research stations.

Community Outreach

• The Cornerstone Foundation is based out of San Ignacio and works with cultural and community outreach programs.

Conservation

• The Belize Audubon Society (BAS) works in many aspects of conservation and also manages parks and protected areas.
• Belize Botanic Gardens in Cayo runs garden projects for those interested in horticulture and agriculture.
• The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center looks after orphaned, rescued, donated, and rehabilitated wild animals.
• Birds Without Borders is a research, education, and conservation organization which works with the Belize Zoo and is coordinated by the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
• Green Reef Belize is based in San Pedro and has several projects to protect Belize’s marine and coastal resources.
• Itzamna Society in San Antonio works with the local Maya community in the protection and conservation of the environment.
• Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is an environmental education center near the Belize Zoo which works with conservation and community service projects.
• Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) in Punta Gorda focuses on conservation in Toledo District.

Education and Development

• The Mount Carmel High School Belize in Benque Viejo del Carmen is a Catholic school where volunteers can teach.
• Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) works with sports, arts, and other programs, and helps women and girls in Belize.

Working with Children

• King’s Children’s Home looks after orphans and abandoned, neglected, and abused children in Belmopan.
• The Scout Association of Belize sometimes has opportunities for volunteers, especially those with scout experience from their own countries.

Excerpted from the Second Edition of Moon Living Abroad in Belize.