Partners of the Americas
Be a part of the network that Connects, Serves and Changes Lives throughout the Western Hemisphere.
How Partners Connects – We connect volunteers, institutions and communities. We connect because in isolation we can’t flourish. Through Partners, individuals find solutions, youth find their voices, and professionals share their visions. We unite countries in spite of their differences, showing volunteers the strength of their local communities, and the determination of the network to which they belong.
How Partners Serves – We serve because our world demands action, and because, many times, we share the same problems. We serve through innovation and inspiration. Service may be in short supply, but at Partners, opportunity is in higher demand. Nations come to a better understanding of each other through service. But above all, we serve not because it’s expected; we serve because at Partners, it’s our way of life.
How Partners Changes Lives – Partners reaches those to whom ‘opportunity’ is a hollow word and ‘safety’ is but a dream. We change lives by bringing communities closer together, whether those communities are 50 feet or 5,000 miles apart. By revealing one person’s ability to help others, Partners also reveals their ability to help themselves. We change lives by training and empowering our youth to lead us forward. One person, one community at a time, Partners changes lives.
Partners of the Americas was inspired by President John F. Kennedy, who in 1963 launched the Alliance for Progress, a program of government-to-government economic cooperation across the Western Hemisphere. At the same time, Kennedy also called for a parallel people-to-people initiative, one that would allow private citizens to work together for the good of the Americas. In 1964 Partners of the Alliance was formed, which was established as part of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
In 1967 the organization shifted to the private sector and changed its name to Partners of the Americas. In the following years, it expanded its reach into the Caribbean and ultimately formed 120 volunteer chapters involved in 60 partnerships. Partners of the Americas is built – and continues to thrive – upon enduring relationships across borders.
Belize
Belize, a land settled between Mexico and Guatemala, remains to be one of the few unexhausted places in the world. Travelers, even from far away countries, are attracted to its magnificent natural attractions and mix of rich culture. It has an plenteous ecosystem making it a biodiversity “hotspot” in the whole of Mesoamerica. The people of Belize are made up of a combination of Maya, Mestizo, Creole, Garifuna, East Indian, Mennonite, Arab and Chinese. It also has a few European and American. These well-balanced combination has not only led to its universal reputation as one of the friendliest tourist destinations but also as the most peace-loving and most festive countries in the region. The Belizeans, which symbolizes the more than ten various cultures, are also the biggest source of its tourism industry. They speak many languages with Kriol and Spanish spoken among the population but English is official language of the country, and everyone is able to speak it.
Dominican Republic
Known as the Caribbean’s largest tourist destination because of its many remarkable sites and sounds, the Dominican Republic is a nation located on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean. The mountainous land holds Pico Duarte, Caribbean’s highest mountain. Also found in the Dominican Republic is the largest lake in the region and the lowest elevation, Lake Enriquillo. Its economy, which is also the second largest in the whole region and has been known to depend in its sugar production way back, is now dependent on services. The progress of the country’s economic system is evidenced by its state-of-the-art telecommunication system. One of the most famous and popular attractions in the country is the year-round golf courses. In terms of culture, the Dominican Republic is rich and colorful, having been created from the influence of inter-linking racial legacy that came together and developed the Dominican people’s social and cultural foundation. This remarkable culture was formed out of the Domincan Republic’s history developed through the merging of captivating and ethnic groups. These mixture is also apparent in the identity of the Dominican people as shown in their sports, religion, arts, music and more.
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