By Belize Live News Staff: The Government of Belize has received a US$3 million grant from the Republic of China (Taiwan) as part of the 2023 Bilateral Cooperation Program between the two nations. The funds, handed over by Taiwan’s Ambassador to Belize, H.E. Lily Li-Wen Hsu, were accepted by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance John Briceño.
The grant will reimburse expenses under two major education initiatives: the National Healthy Start School Feeding Program (US$950,000) and the Wi-Fi in Schools Program (US$2,050,000). Both programs, launched in 2022, are integral to improving education access and outcomes in Belize.
The Wi-Fi in Schools Program connected 197 schools to high-speed internet by March 2023, ensuring secure and cost-effective access for teachers and students nationwide. The funding will sustain ongoing services, including monitoring, security, and content filtering, through 2023 and 2024.
Meanwhile, the National Healthy Start School Feeding Program continues to address child poverty and malnutrition by providing daily healthy meals to over 8,000 students across the country. The allocated funding will cover the program’s expenses for the 2023-2024 school year.
The Government of Belize expressed gratitude to Taiwan for its continued support in advancing initiatives that positively impact Belizean students and their education.
