Izzy Jones set out on a mission to help save the rainforest in Belize

The road to Gallon Jug had been long and bumpy in every sense. I had spent a year fundraising over £4000: the main events seeing me walk across England, and holding a concert with Barclays Bank. But by far the most challenging was the early morning car boot sale on a grey March Sunday.

The more literal road to Gallon Jug was, however, more rollercoaster than bumpy. I was also sweating more than I had ever done on a hockey pitch. I was in Belize, Central America. A group of young people like myself were about to embark on ten days of Jungle Training.

I knew nobody, had never set foot in a rainforest, didn’t have the first idea about how to use a machete, and was about to spend the next two months in the jungle carrying out our project. I did question why, all those months ago in the 6th Form Centre, I thought this to be a good idea. The instant conclusion was that I was mad.

Ten days later I knew everyone, had spent a few nights in the jungle in my hammock, and was (almost) skilled at machete use. We had learnt how to light fires, cross rivers, stretcher a casualty, and how to clean one’s basher after a troop of howler monkeys had thrown fruit onto it in the middle of the night!

We were on a mission to build a 2km boardwalk linking a Ketchi Mayan community to a visitors’ centre built by Trekforce the previous year. We were completing phase two of a long-term effort to introduce sustainable eco-tourism to the area: the only way to protect the unique eco-system that is the Aguacaliente Wildlife Sanctuary.

Time to Explore

Most days were long and hard, getting up in the dark at 5.30am to do a water run, back for porridge and out on the trail digging holes, packing posts in, carrying wood, from 7am-12.30pm. Lunch back at camp and back to work from 2.30pm until 5pm. Then dinner, diary writing, music, parties for special occasions (my 19th birthday was the best one I’ve ever had), and chilling out after a hard day’s work. Not every day was like this though; we did have some play time thrown in:

"DAY 29. WEDNESDAY 2ND MARCH: Tried to work, but rain made it impossible, so had whole day off! Spent morning chilling out – wrote letter to family. We decided to go to Phil’s for the day. Got swimming things, clean cut-offs and t-shirt ready. Set off in a pick-up truck owned by one of the villagers…we were all in the back, looking at the mountains and the TF Landrover behind.

That night I was back in the pick-up truck in the rain, in the dark, to get back to Laguna that night– good to feel the wind in my hair again! Feel so contented and happy, wish the feeling would never end. Walked back along the v. muddy trail in the rain – like an assault course trying to dodge the holes filled with water! Wrote diary in the candlelight, then went to bed. One of the best times of my life today."

Trek

Also during the project phase we went on trek – mine took me to the Cockscombe Jaguar Sanctuary. We were challenged to climb Victoria Peak: highest mountain in Belize… the fastest group up that year. Yes! We watched scarlet macaws fly overhead whilst swimming in a river. It was hard, and taught me that I can overcome things that I’m convinced I can’t do: the evening before summit day, I remember having awful bouts of tears because I didn’t want to let myself down by not attempting the climb, and not wanting to let the team down by not being able to complete it, meaning that everyone would have to return to camp without reaching the summit. We all made it, and were rewarded with 360degree views of pristine primary rainforest as far as the eye could see. My reason for being there.

Finishing the Project

The project was completed, we had our opening ceremony; we left Laguna and Aguacaliente knowing that our blood sweat and tears helped our villagers by aiding eco-tourism, and the conservation of the sanctuary from illegal hunting and fishing.

Language course

The story continues over the border in Guatemala. San Andreas on Lake Peten Itza became our new home. Our village was on a hillside running right down to the water’s edge. We went to school every morning, and learnt Spanish. Afternoons would be spent swimming in the lake, or going to Flores, the nearest large town across the lake. Weekends would see us travelling to Mayan sites like Tikal, the Colonial city of Antigua, Lake Atitlan, and the ‘hippy retreat’ of Finca Ixobel. The experience of living with my Guatemalan family will be with me always.

Looking Back

I flew home…I thought I was so ready to go and study Marine Biology and Oceanography at Plymouth University. The love of the jungle would not leave me though. Halfway through my first year at uni, I decided that I needed to change degree to enable me to get back to the rainforest: the environment I love the most.

Given the experience I had, I would urge everyone to get out there and do something amazing with their lives. There’s so much out there and I’m convinced everyone can find something that will not only benefit them, but other people and our world in general. Good luck with wherever you find yourselves!

Izzy Jones - Trekforce Worldwide volunteer, Belize, Central America