Illegal migration is at the top of the United States priority list of concerns for Central America - as desperate populations continue to push north in search of a better life.
The question the Us faces, how do they help make a better quality of life for their neighbors to the south?
That's the focus of the Central American Regional Security Initiative Economic Support Fund. It identifies and funds programs that attempt to create social renewal and opportunity.
Today, five local NGOs were selected by the US Embassy to receive this year's tranche of funding. Jomarie Lanza attended the award ceremony today in Belmopan.
The grantees were awarded based on projects which seek to improve health services, enhance access to government services and protect human rights in the fight against gender based violence.
Since 2012, the programme has invested over 11 million US dollars into funding and promoting civil society organizations in Belize.
We spoke with the US Ambassador to Belize Michelle Kwan about this year's recipients.
Michelle Kwan, US Ambassador to Belize
"And you heard the testimony of these five organizations doing incredible work and countering trafficking in persons, Gender based violence, delivery services like the Belize Heroes really equipping the firefighters with the training and services and to support civil society in Belize so I'm deeply moved and just inspired and you're giving them a platform to raise awareness with what their doing."
"It's very competitive right but I also think the grant writing process is very difficult and these organizations really are leaders in their areas and they do so much and they continue to do a lot of work. You saw repeat grant awardees today you know from RET to the Belize Heroes and the Love foundation right. It is only a testament of the work that they are doing and continue to accomplish."
And for some organizations like the Belize Heroes initiative, a previous recipient of the CARSI-ESF. The funds have enabled them to continue to expand their work and accomplish objectives that seek to improve the emergency response sector.
Colin Gillett, Fire Chief, Belize Heroes
"Two years ago when we started we had no ambulance service and we had not trained firefighters in EMS. Today we have more than 55 fighters and all the communities around the cayo district have been trained in becoming their own first responders in getting basic first aid knowing when to call. And what these funds do is attract more from all over. SO since we started now we have five ambulances we actually have other partners who want to come with us, so the spanish look out ambulance service is now a part of the connection that we started and the Belmopan ambulance service its all turning and building up to the point where now one of our dispatch centers in belmopan state of the art nothing else like there is in the country is awesome. So we are saving lives and every second counts and what we can do with these types of funds now goes up to Corozal and Orange walk to expand the project to get even more persons trained and get the requisite equipment that they need onboard."
Other organizations such as PETAL lean more towards advocacy and empowerment for Lesbian/Bisexual women through awareness and educational outreach within both civil and government sectors.
Charrice Talbert, President, PETAL Belize
"The proposed project is laid out to build on and increase strengthens of existing participation of civil society organizations. Our goal is that the proposed intervention seeks to promote transparent, equitable and corruption free public service delivery that rebuilds respect for mainstream gender and human rights and contributes to the achievement of relevant sustainable development goals. Our project partners, PETAL will utilize and expand its collaborative networking and partnership with two governmental agencies and departments in the ministry of human development, families and indigenous peoples affairs and the ministry of public service."
A total of 1 Million USD was dispersed among the 5 recipients.
