Project Belize

In 2008, we launched a program to send our interns and high-performing staff to work with the children in Belize City – a city experiencing great poverty and economic depression due to complex social and economic factors including lack of employment opportunities and limited resources.

“Project Belize” is an innovative international experience that ties to our broader commitment to youth education and leadership development. In July 2011, PwC sent 200 partners, staff, and interns to Belize to lead financial literacy and entrepreneurship camps at 10 schools, provide needed training to teachers and school administrators, including financial literacy and computer skills training, and build sustainable learning landscape playgrounds providing students the opportunity to learn through play.

The program makes a lasting academic and socioeconomic impact on the children, and it also gives our people an opportunity to demonstrate responsible leadership as they develop and share their skills, inspire children, and support teachers.

Over the years of the program, we have impacted thousands of students, enhanced school grounds, and built learning resources centers, complete with libraries and computer access. Perhaps what’s more enduring are the relationships PwC has developed with the Belizean community, including the Ministry of Education and the US Ambassador to Belize. The program will be expanded in 2012 and, as we work to build a legacy of our involvement, will now include retired partners among the mix of attendees. This will allow another generation of PwC people to collectively change the lives of a community.

Some highlights of this program include:

• More than 4,000 Belizean students have participated in Project Belize over the four years of the program
• Over 300 Belizean students have received scholarships toward advanced education since 2008
• A total of 80 scholars are continuing on to high school due to PwC’s financial assistance
• Some $150,000 in total scholarships has been given to students over four years
• School supply drives have been conducted each year, and, in 2011 alone, more than 3.5 tons (7,000 pounds) of school supplies were delivered to children throughout Belize City
• In 2011, 32 teachers participated in teacher training workshops
• Interactive educational playgrounds were built at six schools in 2011; more than 2,500 children attending these schools have regular access to the playgrounds
• Twenty-five laptops provided through teacher training in 2011 are currently being used in schools throughout the city

Read more at www.pwc.com/projectbelize