Cayo Scoop! The Ecology of Cayo Culture

It's Benque Fiesta time again, and this Saturday, the Grand Football match will be taking place.  Starting at 2:30pm, Arenal plays Arenal.  The Verdes host La Furia de Sayaxche for the main match at 5:oopm.  Go, Verdes!

Arenal has a website.  The village is planning for tourism, and has a tourism strategy.  They don't mention the football field that is in both Belize and Guatemala, or the wide selection of beers...yet.  Check out the site for more information. 

"We could now do this with your help, would love to implement a first step to bring tourism into our village – a soft, natural and authentic way of tourism – built small structures into single citizen’s properties – cabanas with thatched roof or apartments with a concrete roof – rent these accommodations to our visitors, offer full meal plan within the families – eating the ordinary daily food with the hosts, cooked on open wood fire – delicious Central American food – tortillas, fajitas, empanadas, chicken rice & beans, escabeche, salsas, spices and much more and carefully set our village up to a natural tourist place. "

Feelgood news of the day.  The Rotaract club of Benque delivered the first round of backpacks to the students that needed them. Looks like they had a lot of fun doing it too.  Thanks, Rotaractors, for making a difference in the lives of those students!

"Through the collaboration of the Principals and Teachers at Mount Carmel Primary School and Hills of Promise Primary School in Benque Viejo, La Inmaculada Primary School in Arenal and San Jose Succotz Primary School, a total of 40 deserving children were selected as beneficiaries of this year's program.  Selection was done based on the family's financial need.  On Sunday, August 23, 2015 school bags with supplies were given to children and parents of children from Hills of Promise Primary School and Mount Carmel Primary School in Benque Viejo.  The families were extremely grateful for the assistance as this helps them to alleviate their expenses for this coming school year 2015-2016. "

Ian Yacab, who you've probably seen play with the Benque Marimba Academy, won the Arts and Culture award!  The Department of Youth Services held the Belize Youth Awards at the Bliss today, honoring the youths that have provided outstanding service to Belize.  This is the 4th consecutive year where a Benqueño has received national recognition in the Arts and Culture.  Congratulations, Ian, on your well deserved award!

In related news, Ian and the Benque Marimba Academy will be playing at the Benque Festival of Culture on Sunday the 17th.

"Estatic feelings!  Our Youth Ian Yacab, is the National Youth Recipient for the Art's & Culture 2013-2014 as the Prime Founder of the Benque Marimba Academy, join us in sending him the best wished and may he continued to promote and preserve his cultural heritage.

We also salute our partners in the Arts & Culture, Caracol YCD Maritza Barrera (Arenal Villagea), for her outstanding contribution and commitment to the development of the Arts in the region.  Kudos to our Youths."