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Since 2004 the NCA has been able to offer students and volunteers an enjoyable and enlightening experience of working with older persons in Belize.

The NCA is committed to offering placements that enhance the interests and skills of students of all ages from Belize and overseas. The only condition that the NCA stipulates is that during the course of the placement the student or volunteer produce a positive piece of work that they and the NCA can use for future awareness and education of older persons issues.

These are some of the people that have worked with the NCA during the past 10 years.

Students & Volunteers Gallery

Andrea Attori
Angie Mendez
Carolyn Gilooly
Christy Kessens
Jamie and Jeanette
Kui
Lorna, Jessica & Rendine
Lyndsay
Sandra and Tiffany
  • 2004/5: Challenges Worldwide (CWW Volunteers) from the UK

    Ms. Wangui ‘Kui’ Kihoro a newly qualified lawyer assisted the NCA with the development of a website. She also wrote several amendments to the Belize Constitution that would include ‘age‘in the preamble that related to non-discrimination on the grounds of age. (Unfortunately the amendments were not accepted).

    Ms. Lyndsay Chapman was very interested in women’s issues and during her time with the NCA she developed the ‘Older Women’s Health Issues’ booklet that was used as an education tool for women of all ages.
  • University of New Hampshire in the USA

    2007: Ms. Jamme Morency an Occupational Therapy student travelled the country to interview caregivers of older persons. She produced a report entitled: “I do the best I can” – Perceptions of Caregiving for the elderly in Belize.  This report was reproduced in a very prodigious academic journal.

    2008: Ms. Amanda Hansell conducted a quality of life study of older persons living in residential facilities in Belize.

    2010: Ms. Carolyn Gilooly also an Occupational Therapy student carried out an assessment on the level of function and healthcare available to older persons having suffered a stroke. Carolyn also produced 2 brochures in English and Spanish entitled: ‘Stroke – a guide to understanding, preventing and recognizing strokes’.

  • Queens University in Canada – School of Rehabilitation Therapy.

    2007: Ms. Beth MacMillan and Ms. Lisa Palmer worked to create greater awareness about the hazards of falls in older persons and how they should be prevented. They produced the ‘Stay Safe on Your Feet’ brochure in English and Spanish and also facilitated a training of trainers programme for healthcare workers and caregivers in order to build capacity in the community.

    2008: Ms. Andrea Town and Ms. Catherine Poirier worked jointly with the NCA and the Ministry of Health, Mental Health Programme as they were interested in the mental health issues of older persons in the community. They worked with the PNP at the Port Loyola Day Centre/ Clinic using their rehabilitation therapy skills.

    2009: Ms. Jamilee Adams and Ms. Jeanette McNalty continued the work established by Beth and Lisa on falls prevention by organizing and facilitating workshops to educate health professionals. They also developed and produced the excellent ‘Falls Prevention Training Manual’.

  • Oklahoma State University in the USA

    2008: Mrs. Christy Kessens Gerontology student from Iowa chose her own placement with the NCA. Christy specialized in Alzheimer’s disease which was very beneficial to the NCA because for the first time we were able to use her knowledge and skills very positively to educate the public in Belize.

    Christy produced 3 brochures: ‘Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease; Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease and Nighttime Behaviour Problems’, all of which have been extremely popular and have been reproduced several times. Christy also facilitated several workshops on Alzheimer’s disease for healthcare professionals and community caregivers. Christy wrote about her experience in Belize in 2010 which was published in the Global Action on Ageing newsletter.

  • Gettysburg College, Philadelphia in the USA

    2009: Ms. Sandra Gillot a SUNY Volunteer came to Belize with a particular interest in the different cultures that existed in the country. Sandra carried out a survey on how culture impacts the needs and treatment of older people in the different communities of Belize.

  • KAYA Volunteer Agency in the UK

    2011: Mr. William Paranto Jr – Physiotherapy Volunteer from USA.
    Although only with the NCA for a short while, William carried out some very useful physiotherapy work with all the residential homes in Belize with older persons suffering chronic mobility issues.

    2012: Ms. Andrea Attorri – Dr. of Physiotherapy from ELON DPT in the USA.
    Andrea volunteered her services enthusiastically for 3 months and worked with the Mercy Care Clinic, Sister Cecilia Home and the Octavia Waight Centre, where she not only assisted older persons with therapy techniques but also trained the staff at the Centres. She produced very useful laminated exercise materials and developed and facilitated a training programme for Community Health Workers in the Cayo District.

  • Seattle University College of Nursing in the USA

    2014: Ms Laura MacGregor and Ms. Michelle McElhaney worked jointly with the NCA and the Mercy Care Clinic on a project to create greater awareness of Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease with health and social work professionals and also family caregivers.

    The major focus of their work in Belize was to provide support to family caregivers from the Mercy Care Clinic who were trying to cope with members of their family suffering from Dementia/Alzheimer’s.

    They produced information leaflets on all aspects of care giving and also the ‘Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group Facilitator’s Guide’.

    The workshops and education sessions were the catalyst to form the Alzheimer’s Association in Belize

  • University of Belize Social Work Students

    2007: Ms. Natalie Pratt conducted a survey in Belmopan and the surrounding villages of the health, benefits, family support and living conditions of older people.

    2008: Ms. Yvette Hepburn compiled an in depth report which concentrated upon older persons access to primary healthcare in the Belmopan area.  

    2009: Ms. Tiffany Taylor interviewed older people in Belmopan and produced a booklet entitled ‘Pioneers of Belmopan’.

    2011: Ms. Melissa Miralda conducted a survey with older people in the Belmopan area regarding the availability of facilities open to older persons and their social engagement in the Belmopan community.

    2011: Ms. Angie Mendez interviewed older persons from Benque Viejo del Carmen community and produced a booklet entitled ‘Older People’s lives in Benque Viejo’. This booklet was produced in English and Spanish.

    2011/12: Ms. Tiffany Taylor developed and produced a brochure on ‘HIV/AIDS- Facts for Older Adults’.

    2015: Ms. Sharlen Nuñez interviewed older people from Belmopan and Dangriga about their early lives and produced a booklet entitled:  ‘Senior Reflections’.

  • Belize High School Student Placements

    Belmopan Comprehensive – Community Placement

    2011: Ms. Jessica Martinez and Ms. Lorna Parchue assisted with the work being undertaken with the Senior Steps group in Belmopan when they met on a weekly basis and also with the very popular Variety Show.

  • Our Lady of Guadalupe – Work Experience Placement

    2015: Ms. Audrah Bennett assisted with office duties at the NCA and also redesigned the NCA Resource Centre material. Audrah also conducted a small advocacy activity which she carried out with some of her peer group friends to educate them about ageing issues.
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Download NCA Newsletters

  • Newsletter Vol 4
  • Newsletter Vol 3 Iss 03
  • Newsletter Vol 3 Iss 02
  • Newsletter Vol 02
  • Newsletter Vol 01
  • Newsletter Update
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About Us

National Council on Ageing
Unit 17, Garden City Plaza
Mountain View Boulevard
P.O Box 372
Belmopan City

Tel: 501 822-1546
Fax: 501 822-3978

Email: [email protected]
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