Community and Society

As the year ends, Hope Haven Children’s Home and Empowerment Center continues its efforts to benefit children and the island community, while also empowering young girls and women. The organization has received recognition from several partners, and with their support, it has sustained its operations. Donations remain crucial to their work, and one of the latest fundraisers took place during the recent Thanksgiving celebrations. The 7th annual Turkey Trot charity event was a great success, with all proceeds going to Hope Haven.

The San Pedro Town Council continues its road rehabilitation project, now focusing on the northern roads of Ambergris Caye. With two graders and two rollers in operation, the work targets damaged sections from just past Belizean Shores to Secret Beach and beyond toward Sapphire Beach. Operations Manager Alex Eck, who oversees the project, outlined progress during an interview on December 2nd, noting repairs that include filling potholes with rock material from Blue Dolphin and Las Terrazas to Journey’s End and El Guapo, with plans to finish upgrades toward the port and extend improvements to South Road. The timely efforts aim to address road deterioration before the peak tourist season and ensure smoother travel along the island’s northern corridor.

On Thursday, November 30th, San Pedro celebrated its 41st Township Day with a ceremony at Central Park beginning at 4:30PM. The event marked another milestone in the island’s evolution from a small fishing village to the vibrant destination it is today and included the unveiling of a renewed “San Pedro” sign, a symbol of local identity and pride. Community leaders, residents, and artists gathered to honor the town’s culture, history, and continued growth.

San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, has formally established sister-city relations with the Mexican municipality of San Mateo Atenco, located in the State of Mexico, west of Mexico City. The partnership was officially sealed during the Seminario Internacional de Innovación en los Gobiernos Locales (International Seminar on Innovation in Local Governments), held November 25th–26th. The seminar focused on strengthening cooperation among municipalities and ensuring that resources designated to combat violence against women reach local governments directly.

The grounds of the New Horizon Seventh Day Adventist Primary School in the DFC area received much-needed rehabilitation after recent floods left the schoolyard in poor condition. Local tour guide Oscar Iboy, in partnership with private-sector supporters, donated sand and gravel to fill and level the affected areas. The initiative aims not only to improve conditions at New Horizon but also to assist other schools affected by flooding from heavy rainfall.

The Government of Belize has introduced legislative reforms aimed at strengthening protections for survivors of domestic violence. On November 20, 2025, two significant amendments were tabled in Belmopan: The Justices of the Peace (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill, 2025. Together, these updates aim to provide faster, more accessible emergency protection, particularly during nights, weekends, holidays, and other periods when the courts are closed.

From November 20 to 22, 2025, a three-day training workshop for the Return to Happiness (RTH) Program took place at Sagebrush Community Church in San Pedro. Organized by UNICEF and the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), the workshop aimed to provide community members with practical tools to help children recover from trauma caused by natural disasters and other distressing events.

On November 25th, San Pedro joined the national observance of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence with an official flag-raising ceremony at Central Park. The event, organized by the San Pedro Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Committee, highlights the island community’s commitment to raising awareness, strengthening prevention efforts, and supporting the national call to end all forms of violence across Belize.