Social Work Project - Volunteering in San Ignacio (Belize)

Donna Davidson Start Date: Apr 1, 2018 - End Date: Sep 20, 2018
  • San Ignacio, Belize

My Travel Story

by: Donna Davidson Start Date: Apr 1, 2018 - End Date: Sep 20, 2018
Volunteer within the social services systems of the Cayo district, on placement in counselling and social work in Belize.  You will help understaffed centres support young people and women who are in need.  Dealing with issues ranging from domestic violence to behavioural problems, drugs and alcohol abuse,and especially incest and sexual abuse, there are many areas in which the children, young adults and women need the assistance of professionals and adults they can trust to deal with these highly emotional areas.

Those in support come to the centre through referrals from the police or social services, or through seeking help in person. The project aims to give them a safe place to go, to provide them with the opportunity to build trust with responsible adults, access to counselling and ultimately to help them prepare for a new start in life. With limited trained counsellors and social work professionals working in this field, they are looking for help in building a base of trained and experienced volunteers.
There is a lack of counsellors with a range of skills within the overstretched social service systems in Cayo,to support children, young adults and women which means this project really benefits from the extra assistance provided by experienced volunteers. Clients need to be able to talk about what has happened to them and learn that there are adults who can be trusted, which is exactly what this project aims to do. Your personal benefit from assisting Counselling and Social Work in Belize will come from sharing your compassion, skills and time with vulnerable people and from supporting the project to achieve their goals. The longer you stay, the more you will build relationships and gain invaluable insights which you can take home to your own work placements.
  • San Ignacio, Belize