Galen University is big on sustainability and community development!
On Saturday and Sunday October 26th and 27th, Galen University students embarked on a two-day field research and philanthropy activity on the Placencia Peninsula.
The field activity is carried out as part of Galen University’s Introduction to Sustainable Development course – a core requirement for all majors at the University. This activity serves to provide practical and empirical experience to students in operationalizing Galen’s University Vision of serving as an “internationally recognized, prestigious university promoting academic excellence, sustainable development and lifelong learning”.
Throughout the two-day session, students sought to assess the Peninsulas’ development trajectory from a social, economic, institutional and environmental lens to evaluate its long-term sustainability – guided by a basic scientific methodology. As an end product of the research, students are expected to advance recommendations to improve policy and practice of sustainable development projects in line with the national sustainable development framework of Belize.
Students received presentations from the Placencia and Seine Beight Village Council as well as the Southern Environmental Association on the current developmental challenges on the Peninsula. Students also carried out various surveys with communities and business to assess their perspectives on key research areas to inform their findings.
On Saturday afternoon, students took a short break from their research and visited Seine Beight Village where through a collaboration with the Village Council, painted the basketball court. Village Council Chair Jose Aleman expressed his gratitude to Galen University and its students on behalf of the Village and noted that gratitude is shown in Seine Beight with the sound of the drums. In so doing, Galen students and faculty were treated to Garifuna drumming performance.
The two-day field effort was led by Dr. Kenrick Williams, Galen University’s lead faculty in Sustainable Development.
Galen University would like to thank our social partners on the Peninsula for their continuous support in helping to effect our mission in “offering responsive and cutting edge programs through experiential learning, service and research…”. Our profound gratitude to the people and Village Councils of Placencia and Seine Beight and to the Southern Environmental Association.
Go Eagles!