About Belize: A small Caribbean country, Belize is fiercely independent and culturally rich. Though tourism is creating a boom of development for the country, many of its regions are still simple and living within abject poverty. Many villages, especially in the southern Toledo District, have no electricity and their river is the water source for all things. They live off the food they grow on their “plantation” —which is basically corn and a few fresh vegetables. The Belizeans are very tolerant people who respect the varieties of different cultures, languages and ethnic groups found within its borders, which are roughly the size of the state of Massachusetts. Approximately 200,000 people live in Belize and consist of Creole, Garifuna, Mestizo, Spanish, Maya, English, Mennonite, Lebanese, Chinese and East Indian.

English is the primary language taught in school, yet it is not uncommon to find many villages in the areas we visit and work with that still retain the ancient Mayan language among the older populations. Punta Gorda, in southern Belize, is a prominent port on the Caribbean. The rectory of St. Peter Claver is located right on the Caribbean and the "parish" we work for includes the bottom third of the country found in the Toledo District. This trip offers a chance to compare and contrast our lives of privilege with their lives of simplicity. To work, play and pray with the people of Belize is a chance to see and feel a life of love that Jesus calls us all to live.

Description: I.M.A.P. Belize immerses itself into the life of a Jesuit community within the beautiful country of Belize. The program is sponsored by St. Joseph’s College (a member of the Jesuit Schools of North America) in Belize City. The group will visit many of the pastoral outreaches of the Jesuits in Belize City, travel south to Punta Gorda and stay within the St. Peter Claver Parish, travel to the surrounding villages, and work with the children of the parish as tutors and mentors.

Conduct Policy: Due to the distance and possible challenges found anytime Marquette students venture off campus, Campus Ministry asks that all participants verify that they are not currently nor will be, when the trip occurs, on disciplinary probation with the university. Two conduct checks will made on any students wishing to participate, one before final decisions are made for the trip and the second before leaving for the trip.

You must submit a copy of your passport at the time of acceptance into the program.

Any questions? Contact:

Vevette Hill-Nwagbaraocha
Campus Ministry, AMU 236
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881
(414) 288-6873