In 2005, a group of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers founded Full Basket Belize — then called International Friends of Belize — inspired by a simple Belizean Kriol proverb: wan, wan, okra full baskit — step by step, we will reach our goal. We knew that brains and ambition alone wouldn’t get a deserving child into secondary school in Belize. It also takes, on average, over $800 USD per year — a formidable barrier for many families. So we pooled our own money and funded our very first scholarship, awarded to a young woman named Marivel Idelfonso at Delille Academy near Dangriga in the Stann Creek District.
Marivel, our first Scholarship Recipient, in 2005
Board member Kristi Drexler still remembers standing in front of a school assembly in 2006, presenting Marivel with her award certificate and announcing her as FBB’s very first scholarship winner.
That was twenty years ago.
In recent years, FBB volunteers formed an Impact Committee with a simple but meaningful goal: track down former scholars and find out how they’re doing. We wanted to know whether the investment had mattered — in their own words. Reaching people spread across rural Belize, years or decades later, is no small feat. It takes persistence, local contacts, and a lot of WhatsApp messages sent into the void. Board member Tim Dami took on the particular challenge of locating Marivel — following leads through school records, community contacts, and word of mouth — until, finally, a connection came through and an email reached her just last month.
She wrote back.
20 years later, we reconnect with Marivel, to learn how FBB has impacted her life
Board member Tanya Matlaga arranged a video call, and Kristi met Marivel for the first time since that school assembly nearly two decades ago. What Kristi and Tanya found was a woman who had built a full and vibrant life.
Marivel is married with three children, and she and her husband run a small construction and carpentry business. She serves on her village council in Valley Community, Stann Creek, where she advocates for community improvements — and for more scholarships for young people in her area. Warm and enthusiastic throughout the conversation, Marivel lit up, especially when we asked how she’s now paying it forward.
Perhaps the most striking detail came when Marivel talked about her mother. Those of us who remembered her original application recalled that she had written about helping her mother sell tamales and food from a cart in Dangriga. Marivel’s mother now owns and operates her own restaurant, El Apetito, in Dangriga. One scholarship, two generations of momentum. Actually, make that three generations of momentum if we include Marivel’s children and nephew! Marivel said she encourages them to value their education and to do their best in school.
Marivel’s message to Full Basket Belize was simple: keep going. The scholarship made a difference. She’s sure of it.
Since that first award to Marivel in 2006, FBB has provided over 557 scholarships to deserving Belizean students. This year, 51 scholars are supported across 15 partner schools in all six districts of the country — and we’ve just launched a university scholarship program as well. As a purely volunteer organization with no paid staff, 96 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to students and communities.
Wan, wan, okra full baskit.
We don’t yet know which of this year’s 51 scholars will be the next Marivel — who will build a business, serve their community, and tell us twenty years from now that it mattered. But we know they’re out there.
If Marivel’s story moved you, please consider making a donation to Full Basket Belize. The next twenty years of stories are waiting to be written.
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