A PROGRAM BORN out of tragedy has offered new life and new homes to almost 100 family members who lost all their possessions in hurricanes that battered Belize, a Central American country bordering the Caribbean Sea between Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras.

The four-year housing program on Caye Caulker, an island off Belize’s northern coastline, was a partnership between Episcopal Relief and Development, the Anglican Diocese of Belize, the Caye Caulker Village Council and the Belizean government.  A total of 21 new, affordable homes were built.

“This is a historic moment.  It was not an easy, paved road for us … the road was difficult.  But we overcame many challenges,” said Prime Minister Said Musa of Belize, who hailed the housing program as a model for people working together to fight poverty.

“The uniqueness of the Anglican Church is that it’s not just about preaching to the spirit, but about doing the work of the gospel. The church is all of us, working together to rebuild and be there when people are in need.

“Today, I’m proud to be an Anglican,” the prime minister said. “As many of you know firsthand, we suffered greatly after tropical storms Chantal and hurricanes Mitch, Keith and Iris. But working together with friends like Episcopal Relief and Development, we’ve been able to make a dramatic recovery.”

Keys for homeowners
More than 100 people attended the ceremony, including Sandra Swan, president of the Episcopal Church’s relief and development agency, who distributed the keys to the new homeowners.

Belize suffered more than $500 million (U.S.) in property damage from the hurricanes.

“Thank you, ERD for responding without the diocese even requesting funds,” said Bishop Sylvestre Romero of the Diocese of Belize, who blessed the homes and gave thanks for the ongoing commitment and partnership. “In my term as bishop, ERD has always been there to help us respond when people are suffering.”

Abagail Nelson, ERD’s Latin American program director who oversaw the project’s completion, urged the families to remember those in the world who remain less fortunate than themselves, as they care for and give back to their local community.

“Hurricanes devastated Belize,” said Nelson. “It was a dream for ERD to help build solid and strong structures to survive the next storm.  We’re committed as partners with the Diocese of Belize to provide housing, health care and economic opportunities.”

Families, many of them with a single parent, bought individual lots and the houses in a subsidized program.  Like in the Honduras project in which ERD was involved, funds generated from mortgages will be used by the diocese and government for other development programs.

The president of ERD extended greetings from the U.S. donors – “your Episcopal brothers and sisters who compassionately responded after the hurricanes” -- saying she was proud of what was accomplished together.
Working with Anglican Church and the Belizean government, ERD coordinated volunteer work teams, families and hired workers who participated in the rebuilding project. The Belizean government provided land, electricity, roads and land for construction of a new Anglican church.

ERD also is supporting the local economy through job training and micro-credit opportunities and is rebuilding two communities in the southern part of Belize after damage by Hurricane Iris in 2001.