Through our valued community partnerships, ECI Development collaborates with organizations to enhance local communities, highlighting our commitment to social responsibility. This is crucial to us because fostering sustainable growth and positive change enhances the well-being of the communities in which we act. It also aligns with our core values and long-term vision for a better future.
Hope Haven and American Crocodile Education Sanctuary (ACES) on Ambergris Caye are two organizations that have been providing invaluable services to society. Hope Haven is an accredited shelter for women and children on the island, while ACES focuses on the conservation of Belize’s critical wetland habitats and protected species, in particular, the American Crocodile. In Nicaragua, the organization Help Them Help Themselves has had a significant impact in improving the lives of Nicaraguan children via education. Driven by our belief in these missions, establishing community partnerships was the logical next step, in order to amplify our positive impact, leverage collective resources, and foster a collaborative approach to achieving shared goals.
Community partnerships – Hope Haven
Through the partnership between Grand Baymen and Hope Haven, 50% of every direct booking made at Grand Baymen Gardens goes to the Hope Haven Children’s Shelter. Hope Haven serves as both an emergency and long-term shelter. It also hosts the Colleen’s Kitchen Food Bank, which helps feed over 150 women and children. Additionally, it offers community empowerment programs and services for youth and young women. These include counseling, self-defense, and business training courses. This 50% donation initiative was further spurred by the addition of the island’s first-ever women’s shelter to Hope Haven’s long list of responsibilities. Being that Hope Haven is fully reliant on donor funding, Grand Baymen and ECI Development have stepped up to help. With direct bookings to Grand Baymen, your vacation could be funding much-needed services to the women and children of Belize.
Community partnerships – American Crocodile Education Sanctuary
On the other hand, ACES has been passionate in educating the island community about the importance of conservation and co-existence. They place emphasis on compassion, particularly as it relates to the crocodiles that populate the island waters. Humans naturally have a healthy fear of apex predators, but as development expands, encounters with large creatures are inevitable. ACES’ educators and volunteers assist in the removal and relocation of the reptiles. At the same time, they set up educational lectures at schools and other venues to continue promoting co-existence and conservation. Teak Hardwoods Unlimited has partnered with ACES. We donate a portion of sale proceeds towards the organization, especially their latest mangrove reforestation initiative. ACES aims to create more nurseries and havens for marine life by repopulating shorelines and waterways with this vital plant.
Help Them Help Themselves
In Nicaragua, ECI Development and Gran Pacifica Beach and Golf Resort have focused on the foundation Help Them Help Themselves. The organization focuses on providing an environment for children to be safe, healthy, and able to obtain a proper education. Thus, it ensures that children can help improve their future for themselves. Their biggest sense of achievement came when they built a clinic in one of the poorest rural areas of Nicaragua. Spurred on by a truly devastating story of loss, those at Gran Pacifica were moved to ensure that no parent or child should have to suffer loss of life and/or interrupt a bright future. Help Them Help Themselves has built schools and funded teacher salaries. It has also funded secondary school education for many children. Furthermore, it built homes for families in need, and even provided micro-loans for local Nicaraguan entrepreneurs to start or build their own businesses and provide a life for their families. Their initiatives additionally include medical and dental missions to reach out to those in need. There is even a giant sea turtle sanctuary that provides environmental education for all ages.
Water4Life Ministry
In August 2024, ECI Development had the honor of hosting Mark, one of the founders of Water4Life Ministry, during our Nicaragua Discovery Tour. Water4Life Ministry is dedicated to addressing the global water crisis by providing clean drinking water to those in need. Since its inception in 2011, the organization has delivered portable water filters and drilling wells in over 20 countries. They installed seven wells and distributed over 30,000 filters, ensuring that more than 200,000 children and families have access to safe, clean water. These efforts are life-saving. They help prevent waterborne diseases, improve overall health, and allow children to attend school instead of spending their days fetching water.
With filters that last five years and a commitment to reducing poverty and enhancing quality of life, Water4Life’s mission is both impactful and essential. It is our privilege to support and amplify such a crucial cause, contributing to the promotion of health and well-being globally. If you’d like to support them, you can enable Water4Life supply life-saving water filters to those in greatest need. With just $30, you can provide a family with a portable water filter. This will ensure access to safe drinking water for the next five years.
These examples illustrate ECI Development’s steadfast commitment to community partnerships. Recognizing the significant impact of our rojects, we’re dedicated to ensuring our developments leave a positive and lasting legacy.
