Local Community Projects
Caves Branch is honored to have been able to support and sponsor many projects, families, and organizations over the years by providing funding, complimentary stays, and tours, education, raffle prizes, workshops.
Belize National Youth Chess Foundation (founder)
In 2007 Ian & Ella Anderson developed the “Belize National Youth Chess Foundation”: a nation wide not-for-profit organization utilizing Chess as an educational and motivational tool for disenfranchised youths. Chess instruction helps youths develop critical & logical thinking, memory development, ability to analyze actions & consequences, pattern recognition, creativity, communication abilities, planning ahead, setting up short/long term goals & intellectual maturity.
Tek Time fi Read Literacy Project (sponsor)
The “Tek Time fi Read” (Take time to read) Project was created by and is run by a group of Belizean youth with the goal of encouraging a love for reading in Belize by making free and affordable books available to children & teens. The project hosts big fun book festivals and events to make reading fun and has distributed over 12,000 countrywide. Caves Branch has been the primary financial sponsor of the group and also helps by encouraging guests to bring new and used children's books.
Learn more about Tek Time fi Read and how YOU CAN HELPPack for a Purpose (contributor)
We are proud members of Pack for a Purpose, an initiative that allows travelers like you to make a lasting impact in the community at your travel destination. If you save just a few kilos of space in your suitcase and bring supplies for area schools or medical clinics in need, you’ll make a priceless impact in the lives of our local children and families. Click the link below to learn more and view our list of supplies that are needed for these community/school project/projects.
Learn more about Pack for a Purpose and how YOU CAN HELPBelize Disaster and Rescue Response Team (founder)
In 1993, after just one short year of opening the tiny and struggling Caves Branch, Ian realized there was no emergency response team in Belize. With concern for not only his own guests at Caves Branch, but all travelers throughout Belize, Ian initiated, created & provided ongoing training & financial support for the first national (all volunteer) rescue organization in Belize, BDARRT. After 12 years of developing the program, and performing countless rescues & relief operations, both in Belize and abroad, Ian turned the program over to local leadership where it still remains active today.
BAD CATS (founder)
In 2004, Caves Branch created the not-for-profit BAD CAT’s “Youth at Learning Risk” program. During its 3 years, this program provided tutoring, mentoring, a school meal program, high school and college scholarships, and adventure trips to build self esteem & self confidence, for youths that were identified as potentially dropping out of school, due to already failing 5 or more subjects. The BAD CAT’s program had a success rate of 72% in assisting these youths in graduating from one year to another &, for some, continuing their education into college.
