The Cultural Development Program, managed by the IDB Cultural Center, aims to promote cultural development in Latin America and the Caribbean by financing projects and working hand in hand as project partner.

The IDB Cultural Center awarded the Placencia Peninsula Arts Association US$6300 to produce a historical book. This project was a unique collaboration between the Placencia Arts Association, the two primary schools on the peninsula, and the Placencia Tour Guide Association.

Beginning last September (2009) standard six children in both Seine Bight and Placencia were given an assignment to interview their oldest living relative. Based on the results six students were picked from each school (12 total) to enroll in three weekend workshops. The Creative Writing workshop was conducted by Adele Ramos, Journalism taught by Janelle Chanona and Digital Photography facilitated by Carlton Young, Jr. and Lisa Carne. The children then conducted four interviews in each village over their Christmas/New Year’s break.

Included in the book are brief histories of each village, to frame the results of the interviews. The Seine Bight history was contributed by author Godswell Flores. The Placencia history was pieced together from multiple local sources including the Belize Archives. The end result is “Way Bak Den”, a collection of portraits, historical anecdotes and photographs, and experiences as shared by the elders in both villages.

The book launch was June 25, 2010, at the Placencia Community Center and the book is on sale at the Placencia Tourism Center and Placencia Bazaar gift shop. All proceeds will go to future cultural projects. This project was one of thirty chosen from over eight hundred regional applicants and could not have been possible with out the support and cooperation of all the participants and both villages. For more information contact Lisa Carne, lisas@btl.net, Project Coordinator, or Caroline C. Clarke, IDB Representative, IDBBelize@iadb.org, 223-3900.