Featured Stories

Responding To The Need From Within

A recent UNICEF report on the public education system in Belize revealed extraordinarily high dropout rates. It seemed many families were unable to afford the required fees for their childrens education. Scotiabank decided to take action.

In 2006, the Scotiabank Youth Education Program was launched as a countrywide initiative to alleviate many of the obstacles facing Belizean primary school children. In its first year, the Bank allocated CAD $100,000 to the program, making it possible to award 50 education grants to students across the country.

News of this powerful initiative touched the hearts of Scotiabank Belize staff, who organized their own local events, raising sufficient funds to award an additional 14 education grants.

In 2007, Scotiabank formally established the Scotiabank Belize Education Foundation. Sixty-six grants were awarded for the 2007/2008 academic year and with continued fund-raising by staff, the number of grants is expected to exceed (100) one hundred for the coming academic year. In addition, feeding programs will be established in selected districts and all branches will become actively involved in mentorship programs with their local primary schools.

Go back