Today several NGO's participated in a proposal writing workshop in anticipation for a grant call that will be issued later this year. The workshop was organized by The Field Support Services Project Caribbean, and funded by the government of Canada. The grant is being offered through their LEAF program - Local Engagement and Action Fund. We learnt more about it from the country coordinator at the workshop.
Kendra Griffith, Country Coordinator, FSSP Caribbean
"We have two types of grant proposals, we have the short term proposals which are 6-12 months and those are between 20,000 to 50,000 Canadian Dollars and then we have the long term proposals which are 12-24 months and those are between 50,000 to 100,000 Canadian Dollars so this all being done through LEAF so that we could help have development initiatives done in Belize."
"We've had an amazing group, we've had people who are veterans in the game when it comes to writing proposals and we have some that are new to it so what we've noticed with our facilitator, it's been great working together, we have people who have years of experience but have still faced certain issues when it comes to getting that go ahead for their proposal or receiving the grant and when they raise those questions and she's able to facilitate those answers it gives others who haven't been down that road before just a bit of preparation and it just gives Belize a little bit of help and that's what we want to go, we want to get some of the best proposals submitted when LEAF releases that grant call."
Kiah Pastor, Development & Environmental Officer, Belmopan CitCo
"I think there's a misconception that local governments are fully funded by the government itself but realistically speaking, there are so much opportunities to help grow our communities but we need that extra funding so the Belmopan City Council itself and Mayor Pablo Cawich, he's been fully active, he's been in the field, he's been partnering with different people but we need more resources so there's a couple projects that we have coming up, a couple grants, we've already received a grant so we're looking for ways to enhance our skills so we could apply for more."
"This training has been very helpful, I've definitely learnt a lot and it's not just in terms of my writing skills but just how to approach properly putting together the proposal."
"Right now we're currently focusing on the reforestation of an area in Belmopan so I would hope that it's something environmental related so that we could apply and work on getting that going."
