Canadian Students from Nova Scotia visit TIDE

NSCC Students help to put up banners for Earth day Celebrations

Representatives from the not-for-profit association of universities, community colleges, secondary schools and private training organizations based in Nova Scotia, Canada - VOVA - along with Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) arrived at the Philip S W Goldson International Airport in Belize City, Belize on Monday April 14, 2008 in an effort to build an educational bridge between the Americas.

Students and faculty involved in an International Work Experience program from NSCC, one of the key institutional members of EduNova which is an international education organization specializing in the effective use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs), have identified Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Southern Belize to partner with as part of the program’s requirements.

Some 15 students and faculty members will each appreciate three days of work at the Aguacaliente Management Team (AMT), Toledo Ecotourism Association (TEA)

NSCC students visiting the San Marcos primary school before a FWC football game

and the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) – two Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and an NGO respectively - based in the Toledo District.  They will engage in volunteer work and at the same time learn about conservation and social issues as well as the challenges and the solutions at a local level.

Katie Orr, Director NSCC International is quoted as saying that there is tremendous potential to export NSCC innovation and training through global partnerships and that student mobility programs like these are just one of the ways NSCC reaches out to the world.

Students assist in seagrass monitoring at the TIDE laboratory

Amber Germain, Director of International Projects for EduNova, on behalf of visiting group who made their travel arrangements through TIDE Tours a subsidiary of TIDE, says that they hope to establish strategic collaborations with Belizean organizations in the areas of sustainable tourism, fisheries management and micro-enterprise development.

As an effective leader in ecosystems management TIDE has taken on the responsibility to host the students and provide them with information on how we engage communities in resource management and sustainable use of the ecosystems within the Maya Mountain Marine Corridor of Southern Belize.

Students join Ranger Antonio Baki on the Rio Grande River

During a press release on Love FM, Belize’s national radio, Tara Rowe from the Faculty of Tourism Management stated that it is important for them to get the students out of the classroom and give them the hands on experience.

TIDE would like to continue to partner with institutions wishing to contribute to our efforts in sustainable development of the Toledo District including eco-cultural tourism which is what the district has to offer among other wonderful activities.

If you or the institution you represent would like to be a part of our work you can visit our home page or contact Development Officer Jonathan Labozzetta to find out how to become a member of TIDE.