SDOP wraps up visit to Central American country
July 11, 2018
Workers were busy recently at the Sandy Beach Women’s Cooperative in Hopkins Village, a coastal community in southeastern Belize. This was a big day, not only for the women-owned and operated restaurant, but for the country’s Departments of Agriculture and Cooperatives. The top official was paying a visit to meet with members of the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People.
Employees with the cooperative say it is very rare for a national government official to meet with a faith-based organization like SDOP, but this time was different. SDOP has provided more than $260,000 in grant funding over the past six years to help communities build self-sustaining businesses and an economic base. It is something agriculture officials have been happy to see and participate in.
“The partnership with SDOP has been one that has had a level of commitment like none other,” said Lisa Leverette, chair of SDOP’s international committee. “Both sides were skeptical — one was a government agency and the other was a faith group. But this has been the most open, transparent partnership I’ve ever been involved with.”
More than 35 people showed up at the Sandy Beach restaurant and meeting center to meet with SDOP members and hear from Agriculture CEO Jose Alpuche. A banner over the speakers’ table read “The unlikely collaboration of a Belizean Government Department and a U.S. Faith-Based Mission Program.” Alpuche described their first encounter with SDOP as one of skepticism.
“We were very surprised by what you have achieved. A lot of organizations have come in saying they want to help, but end up leveraging that help to make more money for themselves and we have too much of that,” said Alpuche. “Your name is the core of what we try to do in Belize. You are helping those who help themselves. You have to have some skin in the game for you to take the help you are getting seriously.”
Merlene Castillo has been chairwoman of Sandy Beach for 15 years and helped bring the business together.
“Thanks to the funding and support we’ve received from SDOP and the Department of Cooperatives, we are fully employed again,” she said. “New development and tourism are taking off in our community that has helped us to hire new employees, allowing young people to stay in the village, giving us a future. The people have been waiting for economic opportunities in this community for years and this is one of the largest projects taking place.”
The Department of Cooperatives uses Sandy Beach as a success story when meeting with groups in other remote regions of the country.
“The impact has been great. Everyone talks about it. It’s a great national model that we use across the country. The amount of commitment it takes shows it is possible to work with grassroots groups if you allow them to take the reins,” said Mitchell Louis, senior officer with the Department of Cooperatives. “Sandy Beach has parties, conferences, seminars, big weddings and more. This place is famous now. They have an online presence.”
SDOP Coordinator the Rev. Alonzo Johnson told the group he sees the presence of God in the government/faith group partnership.
“It truly is about people helping people. Every dollar you receive doesn’t come from foundations, but from folks who sit in church and are concerned about changing the world,” he said. “They are giving this money because they are confident the resurrection will be done.”
Chekesha Showers of Montgomery, Alabama, has befriended local community organizers and attended the joint meeting. She credited the women’s cooperative for helping her.
“What a wonderful job you’ve done. I came in bad health, but this place restored me to my health. This is a strong and significant thing that has happened,” she said. “When individual women step forward and change their lives, I am inspired and motivated to follow in what they’re doing.”
Rick Jones, Mission Communications Strategist, Presbyterian Mission Agency
Today’s Focus: Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People
Let us join in prayer for:
PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Christy Riggs, PMA
Kathryn Riley, PMA
Let us pray:
God of eternity, you call us to be a people faithful to your call. May we find our prophetic hope in your voice. May we find our compassion in the depth of your heart and love. In Jesus, we pray these things. Amen.
Daily Readings
Morning Psalms 96; 147:1-11
First Reading Deuteronomy 1:1-18
Second Reading Romans 9:1-18
Gospel Reading Matthew 23:27-39
Evening Psalms 132; 134