Crafts to Help Communities Around Archaeological Sites in Belize

Judy Karwacki (middle) talks to one of the Fajina ladies of Toledo, Belize

After months of preparation, Belzeb Inc. of Grenada, West Indies, in partnership with Aid to Artisans, has completed an assessment of the Belize craft sector in communities surrounding nine archaeological sites, Xunantunich, Barton Creek, Actun Tunichil Muknal, Caves’ Branch, Altun Ha, Lamanai, Nim Li Punit, Lubaantun, and Blue Creek. The assessment team comprised of Judy Karwacki, president of Small Planet Consulting, and Daniela Viscarra, founder of Jalsuri Foundation.

Daniela Viscarra (right) talks to one of the artisans from Blue Creek

Together, the team is preparing to improve incomes of artisans who live and work in communities near these sites, through a program of business training, market based product development, linkages to tourism, and a pilot for certification and branding of crafts made in Belize.

Launched in October 2013, the “Making Tourism Benefit Communities Adjacent to Archaeological Sites” (MTBCAAS) project aims to enhance the tourism experience through improvements in tourism infrastructure and services. It will upgrade health and safety provisions and enhance the diversification of community-based tourism products and services offered at the sites. Funding for this project was provided by the European Union and the Government of Belize through the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, for a close collaboration with the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) and the Belize Tourism Board (BTB).

Slate stone artwork from Belize

From February 24 to April 4, 2014, the team will launch a two-day Market Readiness Program (MRP) in four sites to equip 60 local artisans with the proper business skills for entry into the market, as well as provide guidance on utilizing the market resources of NICH and BTB. The training will be followed by a series of product development and design workshops, where the artisans will learn to improve existing products and develop a new product line. There will also be a Train-the-Trainer workshop for several local assistants and key stakeholders that would be engaged during the project to ensure sustainability.

Belzeb’s and ATA’s part in the MTBCAAS project is scheduled to be completed on November 2014.

For more information about the ATA’s involvement in “Making Tourism Benefit Communities Adjacent to Archaeological Sites” (MTBCAAS), please contact our Senior Program Manager, Maud Mabika: maudm@creativelearning.org