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The George Price Centre for Peace and Development

The George Price Centre for Peace and Development www.gpcbelize.com is a Non-Governmental Organization, established in 2004 in honour of the late Right Honourable George Price (1919-2011). George Price was Belize's first Premier (1964-1981), two-term Prime Minister (1981-1984 and 1989-1993) and National Hero (2000). Having been at the helm of the Independence Movement of Belize since 1949 he is affectionately known as "the Father of the Nation".

The Centre works to preserve and continue the George Price Legacy. Through its activities the Centre aims to inspire more Belizeans, regardless of race, colour or political persuasion to continue the peaceful development of Belize and its people. It aspires to be a venue where people can share and improve individual abilities and community spirit through study, dialogue, debate, expression of the arts, among other. It is the vision of the Centre that these processes of self-development will empower more people to work together for the growth and advancement of Belize, free from civil strife and disparities.

George Price Museum

The museum at the George Price Centre for Peace and Development features the exhibition "George Price: Reflections of a Hero" a Photo Exhibition by Richard Holder". In addition to the gripping pictorial exhibition, the documentary "George Price: Man of Purpose and Vision" gives visitors to the museum a knowledge of George Price, the man behind the politician.  The exhibition is complemented with a full time-line of the life and work of George Price as well as listening stations featuring some of his most well-know speeches, such as "The Good Belizean Citizen" with which Mr. Price addressed the graduates at Claver College on July 5, 1966 or the July 1981 radio address in which Mr. Price announced Belize's Independence Day.  The most recent addition to the museum is the display of some of George Price's few possessions: the famous round table around which he and his fellow countrymen signed the formation of the People's Committee in 1949; his resting chair and his famous Olympia typewriter.

The museum is open Mondays to Fridays from 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. and Sundays from 9.30 to 11.30 a.m. Visits are free; groups wanting to visit can call the Centre at 822-1054 or e-mail info@gpcbelize.com.

Conflict Resolution Programme

In 2008, responding to an appeal from teachers and principals, the Centre pioneered a Conflict Resolution Programme aiming to reduce the incidences of conflict among school going youth in Belmopan. With start-up financial support from Belize Natural Energy and in collaboration with conflict resolution experts and a number of volunteers, the programme has:


 * conducted a Baseline Survey on Conflict Management, designed to measure the school and classroom environment in Belmopan.
 * developed full curricula in Conflict Resolution Education for youth (P.E.A.C.E – Preventing, Engaging and Addressing Conflict Effectively) as well as for adults, particularly for teachers.
 * trained close to 300 teachers, the majority of which in Belmopan-based schools, in Conflict Resolution in the Classroom.
 * impacted more then 3,500 students through various Conflict Resolution training and workshops.
 * carried out Summer P.E.A.C.E. camps for children and youth since 2010.
 * hosted a train-the-trainer workshop in Conflict Management for educators, NGO’s and other individuals, building up a network of volunteers carry out more Conflict Resolution education.
 * developed an Ultimate Frisbee programme, integrating sports and conflict resolution skills for youth.

Reading Programme

George Price was an avid reader and encouraged many a young people to pick up a book and learn. In 2007, the George Price Centre for Peace and Development established a reading programme for primary school children, with the help of the J. Kirby Simon Foreign Service Trust of the USA and several spouses of US Embassy personnel. The goal of the reading programme is three-fold: The programme was initially offered in the summer of 2007, but building on its successful start, the Centre continued to offer the programme throughout the year. With the kind assistance of the Seniors at the Belize Christian Academy, as much as 30 children come in every Wednesday to improve their reading skills and have fun while doing it! The Centre also continues its Summer Reading Programmes in July and August; these programmes are lead by an army of volunteers!
 * To improve the English reading-skills of primary school children, thus assisting in improving their overall performance at school.
 * To offer a valuable after-school activity for the children.
 * To inspire an interest in reading as an educational and fun activity.

Source: The George Price Centre for Peace and Development - www.gpcbelize.com