About Socio-Economic Outreach

Socio-Economic Outreach (SEO) is one of the Ministries of St. Peter Claver Parish. It started out with one project, Animal for Others in 2003, which blossomed into Fighting Poverty and Malnutrition Program. As the years went by the Market Connection (MC) Program, the forerunner of this programm is the Economic Justice Project and Fund Raising Program brought our Socio-Economic Outreach components to four. Through our four areas of service we have touched the lives of over two thousand immediate beneficiaries.

Socio-Economic Outreach was developed by Ms. Dorla Bowman, the founding director. Animal for Others Project (Fighting Poverty and Mal-Nutrition program) was developed with the support and input of Fr. Dick Perl, S.J., Pastor of St. Peter Claver Parish and Peggy Rooney of St. Joseph Parish, Wisconsin, U.S.A. Peggy felt that the church needed to help its poor move towards their financial independence. And, Fr. Dick saw the need to help the poor with food and alms but also the need to change the structure of poverty that keeps them in need. While, Dorla was interested in economic development and helping people to put their prayers into action.

The Manager, a social justice activist, has skillfully created SEO guiding philosophy, principles and policies out of something new, something old and something borrowed. Because she believes nobody has the totality of wisdom! She selected the development goodness of our old local cultural traditions interweaving it with her new innovative people centered and community building ideas. And, added a few borrowed tried and proven to work progressive development principles from our partners around the world. To date there has been a successful integration and implementation of all three- something old, new and borrowed.

The Manager has degrees in Primary Education, Human Services, and Public Administration from Harvard University. She is assisted with the implementation of SEO programs and other activities by an Agriculture Officer, Marketing Officer, a team of young adult community development volunteers from the University of Belize-Toledo Center and a cadre of Program Promoters throughout Toledo District.

We greatly appreciate our local and international partners and friends who have provided us with the resources to address the social and economic issues in the Toledo District. Join us as we work to improve the lives of our sisters and brothers in Christ.

Our Mission

The provision of training, resources and opportunities for the poor to improve their skills and living situation through self-help in order to develop self-reliance and sustainable livelihood.

Our Motto

Be an advocate for the poor.

Goals

• Reduction of poverty in the Toledo District, by investing in human development through education and training.
• Advocate for social justice.
• Facilitate ecomomic empowerment.
• Promote human dignity.
• Development of self-esteem and self-confidence in the program participants.