Mission Accomplished

Well, the title sounds a bit pretentious, but I ought to keep you up to date with my work activities, and last Friday, 8 February, was my last day at work.

I did what I set out to do three months ago - I developed a strategic plan for CARE-Belize, together with a detailed action programme so everybody knows what they have to do to achieve the plan's objectives.

I held an implementation workshop for all the staff so that they all feel comfortable with the plan, and CARE now has a new Board with appointed officers and a schedule of meetings for 2008.

I'm optimistic that CARE now has a solid structure with achievable objectives, and a plan that can be used to guide, monitor and evaluate progress. It can also be used as evidence to show potential funders that the organisation is sustainable and worthwhile.

In my last few days, I looked into some fundraising ideas. I spent a day in Tourist Village, where all the cruise ships dock and spill out their passengers for a day's sightseeing in Belize.

My friend and colleague Sister Bev helped, and by selling silicone wristbands and asking for donations of loose change we raised US$337. It may not sound much by English standards, but to put it into perspective, it's enough to buy a pair of leg braces for Doris, a child with spina bifida who can't walk until money to pay for the braces can be found; it's enough to pay CARE's fuel bill for a month; and it's almost a month's wages for a CARE Rehabilitation Field Officer.

The best thing is, cruise ships come in at least twice a week, always with a new set of passengers. Sister Bev is now busy recruiting volunteers to make this a regular fundraising event.

My reward for finishing my project on time is a few days 'r and r' in Guatemala, so my next post will be sent from Lago El Peten.