Belize Moves to Expand Cooperatives with Push for Classroom Education

Today, Belize has dozens of registered cooperatives, estimated at around sixty-nine nationwide, many of them driven by grassroots membership and focused on strengthening rural economies and community resilience.  As Belize continues to strengthen its cooperative sector, the Registrar of Cooperatives is now looking to the future, by targeting the nation’s classrooms.  Registrar of Cooperatives, Gareth Murillo, says there is a growing need to educate young Belizeans about the role and value of cooperatives, with the aim of embedding that knowledge into the national school curriculum.

Murillo noted that cooperatives fall under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and New Growth Industries, and play a critical role in supporting farmers, small entrepreneurs, and community-based organizations across the country.