January 1, 2024
I think this is a very important message from Belize Assembly for Persons with Diverse Abilities from K. Raymark Theus, the President of BAPDA so I copy and pasted it from the BAPDA FB Page for everyone. I, Gretchen Smith, the founding director of both SOZO Belize (Consulting) and SOZO Foundation Belize (NGO) am disabled (C-PTSD) and also have additional problems like lungs and hearing so I think this is extremely important.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008598577667
The Belize Assembly for Persons with Diverse Abilities
Founded by Hon.Phillip Goldson on February 27, 1985 as Belize Association for Person with Disabilities
The Next General Membership Meeting is January 13, 2024 @ 2 PM Bapda Belize-Assembly Office.
Contact the BAPDA FB Page for more information.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008598577667
END OF YEAR MESSAGE, 2023
The year 2023 was perhaps our most definitive since the start of Covid in 2019. Our Office was closed for some time, then further relocated and the organization almost became defunct until a new Board of Directors was elected the mid-2022.
The new Board of Directors brought new life into BAPDA and has consistently shown growth over the last eighteen months. Our Office is open, events are ongoing, limited sourcing occurs for adult diapers and other assistive aids for our many Members. We will build on what has been gained and continue to do our best towards getting more for our Membership and Belize.
This year saw the start of national consultations on the Proposed Disabilities Act with BAPDA taking on a critical role in the formation of a more concise legislation than the document given to us. It was worth the many meetings, travel and man-hours spent by our contributing partners and colleagues. It is now our hope to see the final Bill signed into law by the start of the second quarter of 2024.
BAPDA was given the framework of an MOU to be signed between the Ministry of Human Development and BAPDA. We have sent our feedback to the Ministry and expect that we will have a final agreement with them by early 2024 as well. This will hopefully see BAPDA receiving much needed and appreciated funding, assistance, inclusion and training to better assist in onboarding new clients onto the Ministry’s system that are in need of assistance via referrals from/through a trained BAPDA Office Member.
One new project will be the opening of a BAPDA Recreational Center within our soon to be expanded Office area. This would be a place where mostly Volunteers will be on hand for game nights, movie nights, day socials, glucose and blood pressure checks, community events, meetings, clinics and projects. Such a space is sorely needed in the City where many Persons with Disabilities would love to have a space to do such things on a regular basis. BAPDA is working towards doing more that advocacy and lobbying but stepping up our involvement in social issues affecting Persons with Disabilities in Belize.
Tiny steps have been taken towards expanding to have BAPDA Offices both Punta Gorda and Dangriga Towns in early 2024. We have identified two ladies that are integral in each of those two communities and they can assist us towards having an established Branch in each of these two local communities, complete with an ongoing database to collect the names and all pertinent information on Persons with Disabilities in each of the many villages in their District and their Towns.
We can only get out of BAPDA what we are prepared to put into it. Those that find the time to come around and volunteer, to attend meetings, to share our social media posts, that keep us relevant with all that we do, we appreciate and congratulate you! Thanks for all you do and we are encouraged as we continue to grow and serve those that are most in need.
Merry Christmas and wishes for a Prosperous New Year, 2024!
K. Raymark Theus, President
Belize Assembly for Persons with Diverse Abilities
December 18, 2023
Contact the BAPDA FB Page for more information.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008598577667
This blog is written by Gretchen Smith, Owner and Founding Director and Owner of SOZO Belize and President of the Board and Foundation Director of SOZO Foundation Belize which works in education, environment and anti human trafficking and violence reduction initiatives in Belize Central America.
Smith is disabled with PTSD and is bi-vocational (business consulting), self-supporting missionary for over 25 years in 9 countries. She is a recognized expert in anti-human trafficking and violence reduction by the Human Trafficking Expert Directory.
https://humantraffickingexperts.com/main/business_details/483
She hopes to build an intentional, faith based, off grid community and registered alternative education school in Belize Central America for the marginalized, abused, and victims of violence and trauma called SOZO Penny University. Smith is fully aware that the marginalized group in Belize is black men over age 30 but she works with people with diverse abilities from all belief systems and ethnic backgrounds when she has capacity.
As of 2024 SOZO Foundation Belize has done over 50 pilot projects and is in the capacity building phases and SOZO Belize (Consulting Firm) has worked with several clients in Belize ranging from AIRBNB, to Luxury Condominiums to FOREX Trading Companies and Security Companies.
Smith prefers WRITTEN communication via Whats App at +501-672-0547 or tallartist@hotmail.com. You can also text 619-780-8209 if you are in USA.
