The Foundation for Veterinary Aid International (FVAI) will be back in  Belize from December 10 to 17, 2022 after almost 3 years of absence.

We will once again visit the village of Sarteneja. This will be our tenth visit to this dynamic little community.

The majority of the villagers do not have a car and the nearest veterinarian is a two hour drive in a crowded bus or an hour’s rowboat ride across the Bay of Corozal. By operating a clinic in the heart of the village, FVAI is the solution to this problem of access to veterinary care. We hope to offer dozens of sterilizations at no cost during our two-day clinic in Sarteneja.

After catching our breath and replenishing our energy during our day off, we will be crossing the Bay of Corozal to join the volunteers from the Corozal Animal Program (CAP). This will be our fourth collaboration with this amazing organization. The CAP volunteers are active all year long. They provide rebate coupons for people of limited means to have their pets spayed or neutered, educate Belizeans about pet care and promote adoption. FVAI is pleased to support them in their mission by providing free veterinary care in the surrounding Mayan communities.

The clinics are of the M.A.S.H. variety (Mobile Animal Surgical Hospital).  This mobility allows us to serve isolated villages that do not receive veterinary services on a regular basis. In order to facilitate access to the clinic, a central location or meeting place is required. A community center then becomes the village’s official veterinary clinic for a few hours.

Belize is only a five hour flight from Montreal. If you wish to participate in your first humanitarian mission, here is your chance!

We invite veterinarians, animal health technicians, students and all travelers with or without experience to join our team.

Thank you for helping the animals of Belize and for participating in improving their well-being through concrete actions.

Belize is a small, little-known country in Central America. It is a diving paradise with the second largest barrier reef in the world. Its lush forests are home to ocelots, jaguars, monkeys, tapirs, toucans and other animals. The official language is English, but Spanish,  Mayan and Garifuna are also spoken.

 

Cost of participation

$775   Special Price $500

Sign Me Up!

Included:

• Transfers from Belize City Airport (BZE) to the lodgings.
• Lodging for 7 nights,  from December 10 to 17, 2022 inclusively.
• Lunches and transport on clinic days.

**FVAI cannot provide meals to participants with dietary restrictions: allergies, gluten free diets, vegans and others.

• A surgeon’s top (scrub)
• Depending on their availability, visit to Wildtracks, a world-renowned monkey and manatee rehabilitation center
• Accompanied by French and English speaking veterinarians.
• All clinic materials so that all veterinary care is provided completely free or charge.
• In order to outfit themselves for the trip, each participant is eligible for a rebate at SAIL in Beloeil.

**FVAI only uses absorbable monofilament sutures (Monocryl* or PDS* type): veterinarians with other preferences must furnish their own suture materials.

**All of the gloves supplied to the participants are latex. Participants who are allergic to latex are responsible for supplying their own gloves.

**Participating veterinarians must use FVAI’s anesthetic protocols exclusively.

Not included:

• Air transportation from Montreal (YUL) to Belize City (BZE.)
• Suppers
• Activities during free time.
• Travel and medical insurance.
• Passport
• Vaccinations

**And everything else not appearing in the “Included” section noted previously.

Practical Information

The local currency is the Belizean dollar.
$1.56 BZ= $1.00 CAN as of August 9, 2022

The US dollar is accepted everywhere. $2.00 BZ= $1.00 US

There are no ATM machines in Sarteneja. We will withdraw money at the Belize City airport upon our arrival.

Itinerary

Day 1 (December 10): Departure from Montreal (YUL) to Belize City (BZE).
Day 2 and 3 (December 11 and 12): Clinic days in Sarteneja.
Day 4 (December 13): Free day
Day 5 (December 14): Visit to Wildtrack.s, a monkey and manatee rehabilitation center. Departure by boat to Corozal.
Day 6 and 7 (December 15 and 16): Clinic days in a Mayan village near Corozal
Day 8 (December 17): Departure from Belize City to Montreal.

*This itinerary is subject to modification.