#SimplyShakera Volunteers In Belize

Hello Everyone,

I am so happy to share with you that I will be heading to Belize, Central America with the 2015 Divas Abroad  volunteer initiative - but first, I would love your help!

The Divas Abroad Volunteer Trip consists of two parts:

(1) Lifestyle & Empowerment Workshops being taught to the women of Belize by myself and fellow teammates!!

(2) A fundraising campaign to cover basic travel and management costs.

The purpose of the trip is to empower women; both the women organizing the trip (working together as a collective) and the women we will connect with in Belize.

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This is truly an honour and I look forward to sharing my passion internationally with others while learning so much more in the process.

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What Is Divas Abroad?

Divas Abroad  is an amazing initiative that allows the opportunity for women to empower women. Two leading women-based communities, DivaGirl  and Sexy & Wealthy in Heels  have teamed up with Dare to be a Dandelion , to create a volunteering experience for women in North America, to empower women in another country.

For 10 consecutive days in November, the Divas Abroad will collectively work to provide classes, workshops and exercises intended to empower women in Belize. Leaders within our community will work on building initiatives as a board. For 2015, we will be heading to Belize and partnering with the Cornerstone Foundation.

Why Belize?

In Belize, the tradition of women devoting their lives to caring for their home and children results in financial dependence on their partners. The current prevalence of alcohol and drug addiction stresses the unreliability of too many fathers and husbands as sources of support. Even when a woman is a significant participant in a family business, her contribution tends to be undervalued or unrecognized. 

The average village family has eleven children, and the average town family has five. Due to large family sizes, many of the women have inadequate education and vocational skills, as girls often do not attend school. Perhaps most unfortunate is that domestic violence is a taboo subject in Belize. The Divas Abroad workshops will empower and support women in these conditions to be successful entrepreneurs and leaders. 

Our Partner Organization: The Cornerstone Foundation

Cornerstone Foundation   is a local organization founded in the town of San Ignacio, district of Cayo, Belize. 

They are a grass roots organization founded on the humanitarian principals of recognizing the specific needs facing their community. Their concerns are for the community and each individual that it encompasses, regardless of his or her condition. 

Cornerstone advocates for children and women's rights. They encourage women in violent situations to seek solutions and empower themselves with skills that enable them to achieve a degree of financial independence. To find out more: http://cornerstonefoundationbelize.org/  

I thank you in advance for your support – IT MEANS THE WORLD! Every dollar counts and is appreciated.


Xoxo,
Shakera 

#DivasAbroad15

#DivasAbroadEvents
You are also invited to attend the team's fundraising events "VINO Y QUESO - A Wine & Cheese Soiree " (Oct.17th) and "A Masquerade Affair " (Nov.7th)
 

#FlashbackPhoto

Simply Shakera at the 2014 Walk to End Women’s Cancer