PALS in BELIZE

For many of us in the United States who grew up playing sports--or have children who now play sports--it is hard to imagine a childhood without baseball or softball. However, for many kids in the Central American country of Belize, they have never had the opportunity to play. There is currently no Little League in Belize (though there are some beginning efforts to reestablish it) and baseball has not been played in the country in any organized way since 1993. As a result, many children never step foot in the batter’s box, despite that baseball is well loved by many in Belize. In fact, Belizeans are often die hard Cubs fans because one of the only channels they received through the 1990s was WGN out of Chicago, which created a deep love of the MLB team.
 
Softball is more widespread for both boys and girls; however, limited resources, exposure, and access to equipment and facilities means that basketball and soccer is more common. In Belize City, organizations such as the Belize City Softball Association--which this year is offering its first coed recreational league for adults--dream of engaging more young people in softball or baseball, particularly as they are based on the Southside of the city where limited opportunities and poverty affect the lives of the children who reside there.
 
However, the Association currently does not have any equipment available to facilitate youth softball clinics, and needed items can be difficult to access--particularly with minimal resources--in the small country. The volume--and prohibitive expense--of equipment required to play as compared to other sports compounds these challenges. The need for equipment is particularly acute in Belize City, but is also felt throughout the country, such as in the rural areas of Cayo.
 

To help support local efforts, our team of 15 participants from the league and two league organizers will travel to Belize City and San Ignacio to facilitate clinics for young people ages 7-16 in coordination with the Belize City Softball Association so that children will have the opportunity to play for the first time. We will also donate a wide range of equipment so that these clinics are sustainable and can continue long after we leave. In addition, this equipment will be used to facilitate the startup of softball programs at more than a dozen primary schools in Belize City and a pilot baseball program for at-risk youth. For example, as of now the Belize City Softball Association only has one set of anchored bases that cannot be removed and easily transported from Rogers Stadium softball field. As many of the children who would most benefit from organized activities are unable to travel to the the field, just providing a set of throw down bases that they can bring into the community will help them expand their efforts, as will providing gloves, bats, helmets, balls, and other items needed for safe play.
 
In addition to facilitating clinics, we will be playing other local coed teams in Belize City, Cayo, and San Pedro. This will be a great cross-cultural opportunity to not only make new friendships but also to learn from one another and gain exposure to regional and cultural nuances in the game, showcase skills, and foster a friendly international rivalry. These international games will also help the leagues to raise awareness of the sport and potentially attract new audiences--all of which is especially timely in Belize City as this is their first year offering coed rec leagues and it will be a valuable opportunity to highlight the sport and their players. Furthermore, as Belize City charges a minimal entrance fee that goes back to league to support field maintenance, umpire fees, and their other initiatives, these games offer a new avenue for promotion and hopefully increased attendance.
 
We will also be donating equipment to the teams we play as they are forced to share items and, as with youth equipment, these items are difficult to access and expensive. Having more equipment available also eliminates barriers to play as people can participate who can’t afford the many pieces of gear required.
 
Finally, to broaden our impact we will also be volunteering with and/or making monetary and in-kind donations to other organizations in Belize City, Cayo, San Pedro, and Caye Caulker, particularly animal welfare related organizations including the Cayo Animal Welfare Society, Caye Caulker Animal Shelter, Saga Humane Society in San Pedro, and the Belize City Humane Society. As the homeless dog and cat population is a widespread issue in Belize (as it is in Philadelphia), we want to support organizations that provide much needed services such as low cost veterinary care and vaccines, spay and neuter services, and foster and adoption programs. We are coordinating with these organizations to understand their greatest needs (as they also struggle with access to and expense of necessary supplies) and will provide these items. We will be volunteering on site with the Cayo Animal Welfare Society in San Ignacio and the Caye Caulker Animal Shelter.
 

Sunday, July 14
Arrive in Belize City, meet with Belize City Softball Association, transfer via shuttle to San Ignacio
Monday, July 15
Visit Cayo Animal Welfare Society

Clinics and softball games in the village of Esperanza in Cayo, outside of San Ignacio
Tuesday, July 16
Visit Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave

Softball game in evening
Wednesday, July 17
Visit Belize Raptor Center in morning and travel via shuttle to Belize City

Softball clinic in afternoon and game in evening
Lodging: Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina
Thursday, July 18
Clinics and softball games in Belize City
Lodging: Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina
Friday, July 19
Clinics and games in Belize City
Lodging: Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina
Saturday, July 20
Travel via ferry to San Pedro

Two softball games in afternoon
Sunday, July 21
Travel via Ferry to Caye Caulker; afternoon free
Monday, July 22
Volunteer in morning at Caye Caulker Animal Shelter, snorkeling in afternoon
Tuesday, July 23
Travel via ferry to Belize City, transfer to airport, and depart

*Itinerary is subject to change

• The trip is now full. Please email kelly@phillypals.com to be added to the waitlist.
• Non-refundable deposit of $150 to hold your spot is due by March 6, 2019.  This allows us to hold the airfare and cover other upfront costs.
• To save your space, please send your $150 deposit to kelly@phillypals.com via PayPal. 
• If you would prefer not to use PayPal or would prefer Venmo, please email kelly@phillypals.com. 
• If there are still spots open after this date we will continue to add participants and accept deposits. If there are not enough participants signed up by April 5, 2019 and the trip cannot run, we will refund your deposit. 
• To make the trip accessible to more players, we are offering installment payments. The due dates are as follows:
  • April 6, 2019: $200
  • May 6, 2019: $225
  • June 6, 2019: $250
  • June 10, 2019: $500 (for airfare, paid directly to airline)
  • Paid in Country: $85 for ATM Cave and/or $35 for Snorkeling if participating
• As we will be fundraising as a group, if we raise enough funds we will be able to reduce the overall out-of-pocket cost of the trip per person and will update the payment amounts due as needed. 
• Cancellation Policy: If you cancel up through May 15, you will receive a refund of all payments made through that date (minus your $150 non-refundable deposit). If you cancel on May 16 or later, you do not receive a refund for payments paid. If we are able to fill your slot after your cancellation, we may be able offer a partial or full refund but there is no guarantee.