IOM improves training on migration issues in Belize in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Galen University

 
Belize
5 September, 2019

 

Belize—Two activities during the month of August increased the understanding of specialized audiences in Belize of migration issues. The first was a workshop on migration and communication for development, given to instructors from the communities of Corozal and San Ignacio as part of the Professional Development Week held annually by the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture.  

The objective of the workshops was to build the capacity of instructors in border areas regarding migration and human trafficking, as well as to create strategies for conveying this information to their students and other members of their communities. 

At the same time, they provided an opportunity for participants to exchange their experiences with migrant children in the classroom. “I will implement some of the activities that were shared in my classes. Especially the stories that facilitated discussion,” said Keila Gongora, primary teacher. The materials and resources are available in the Educational Toolkit on Migration developed by IOM as a single repository for resources for putting on communication activities on migration in schools and communities.

The second activity was a specialized course on vulnerable migrant populations, taught in conjunction with Galen University, and directed towards personnel from the Customs and Excise Department, the Department of Immigration, the Police Department, the Red Cross of Belize, and the Foundation for Child Development. In total, 25 government officials received training.

The training was held over five days, with the objective of providing in-depth understanding of the needs of vulnerable migrant populations such as women, children, indigenous people, the LGBTI population, and refugees. This course is part of a Migration Management program that IOM has run in conjunction with Galen University since 2018.

Both activities are part of the Regional Migration Program: Mesoamerica - The Caribbean, financed by the Department of State of the United States.