CWEHDIGOAAN!
CCCCC Internal Newsletter
STRENGTHENING CARIBBEAN RESILIENCE: CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY
LATEST NEWS
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CLIMATE CHANGE CENTRE
HOSTS CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP IN DOMINICA
The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) recently concluded a transformative Capacity Building Workshop in Dominica. Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the workshop is part of the CCCCC's ongoing commitment to enhancing the region's adaptive capacity and fostering a collaborative approach to climate resilience.
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On August 22nd, the CCCCC conducted a Technical Working Session to refine the draft Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment and the draft Project Design as part of the Enchaining Climate Risk Management in the Upper Regions of the Belize River Watershed Project (PPF058) funded by the Green Climate Fund through the Project Preparation Facility.
BUILDING RESILIENCE
THROUGH FLOOD
MITIGATION IN BELIZE
CCCCC successfully hosts Slope Stabilisation
Scoping mission in Dominica
STABILIZING DOMINICA’S SLOPES
In the lush, verdant landscape of Dominica, a nation often referred to as the "Nature Isle" of the Caribbean, the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Rural Development, Kalinago Upliftment and Constituency Empowerment, embarked on a mission aimed to enhance the resilience of the island’s coastal communities against the looming threats of climate change.
From Thursday 22nd August to Wednesday 28th August 2024, a diverse team of experts from the CCCCC conducted a slope stabilization scoping mission
Project
Development
Specialist Ms. Sawana Fabien shared that slope stabilization was highlighted as a critical priority for Dominica. She said, “The decision reflects the commitment to enhance the resilience of our communities against the increasing threats posed by climate change.”
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Ms. Fabien shared on the projects intent in this news report. (Click to listen)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COLIN YOUNG PHD ACCEPTS AWARD ON BEHALF OF THE CCCCC
The President's Award is granted to organizations that support the core aspects of the mandate of the CBU and impact the contribution to the CBU and its members.
This award recognizes the contribution of the CCCCC to the work of the CBU and to the development of the Caribbean media industry over the past 2 years.
After receiving the award on behalf of the CCCCC, Executive Director, Colin Young PhD, remarked that while the CCCCC has been quite instrumental in helping to build climate resilience,
“We recognize that there is a massive gap in the public's understanding of climate change and the effect of climate change and we have a responsibility to help to change knowledge, attitudes, and practices of people to become more resilient to the impacts of climate change that the UN has called the single greatest threat to humanity."
The CCCCC looks forward to continued collaboration with the CBU in building media capacity and interest in climate coverage
C C C C C W I N S
C B U ’ S 2 0 2 4
P R E S I D E N T ’ S
A W A R D
On August 12, during the opening of the Annual General Assembly (AGA) of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), in Placencia, Belize, the Executive Director and staff of the CCCCC were thrilled when the organisation was singled out for the 2024 CBU Presidential Award.
Project Highlight
Building Climate
Resilience In the Water Sector in Saint Lucia -
Sub-project of the EUGCCA+ programme
Staff Spotlight
A FOOTBALL, FUTSAL, AND BEACH SOCCER REFEREE
Allen Botes Assistant Accountant Finance & Accounting Unit
MARRIED WITH TWO BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS- HAZEL AND INAYAH
DOWN-TO-EARTH, HONEST, AND CHARISMATIC PERSON
LOVES TO TRAVEL AND GO ON ADVENTURES THAT INCLUDE PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES
LIKES TO PLAY SPORTS
LIKES TO HAVE GAME NIGHTS WITH FRIENDS
HOW TO CREATE A BUDGET IN 5 STEPS
by Alexandria White, CNBC
Summertime often brings a sense of excitement and joy for children, filled with long days, outdoor activities, and the freedom from school routines. However, for parents juggling work and family responsibilities, this season can also pose unique challenges. Finding the right balance between professional duties and quality family time is crucial for the well-being of both parents and children. Here are some tips to help you navigate this balancing act effectively and why it's important to prioritize it.
How to create a budget
1. Calculate your net income:
To calculate your monthly net income, subtract taxes from your regular paycheck. If you're enrolled in a health insurance plan, flexible spending account (FSA), or retirement account, subtract these deductions to determine your take-home pay This helps you understand your income.
2. List Monthly Expenses:
Next, you’ll want to put together a list of your monthly expenses.
Here are some common expenses:
Rent or mortgage payments
Loan payments (such as student, auto and personal)
Insurance (such as health, home and auto)
Utilities (such as electricity, water and gas)
Phone, internet, cable and monthly
streaming subscriptions
Child care
Groceries
Transportation (such as gas, train tickets and bus fares)
Household goods
Dining
Travel
Gym memberships
Miscellaneous (such as gifts, entertainment and apparel)
It’s also good to include details on how much you’re saving each month.
3. Label fixed and variable expenses:
Once you’ve compiled a list of your monthly expenses, label whether they’re fixed or variable. Fixed expenses are bills you can’t avoid: rent, utilities, transportation, insurance, food and debt repayment. Variable expenses tend to be more flexible your gym membership, for instance, or how much you spend on dining out.
If money was tight, you could always drop your gym membership and curtail your dining out spending, but you are likely always going to have to pay rent or your mortgage.
4. Determine average monthly cost for each expense:
After you separate fixed and variable expenses, list how much you spend on each expense per month. You can look up your spending on bank and credit card statements
Fixed expenses are easier to list on your budget than variable expenses since the cost is generally the same month-to-month. For example, debt repayment on a mortgage or auto loan will cost the same each month. But fixed utilities, such as electric and gas, and variable costs, such as dining and household goods, often fluctuate month-to-month, so you’ll need to do some math to find the average.
For these categories and anywhere your spending changes from month to month, determine the average monthly cost by looking at three months worth of spending. To calculate the average amount you spend on groceries, for example, add up all of your grocery spending during the past three months and divide by three. If you find that the average you spend on groceries each month is $433, you may want to round up and set the spending limit to $450.
5. Make adjustments
The last step in creating a budget is to compare your net income to your monthly expenses. If you notice that your expenses are higher than your income, you’ll need to make some adjustments..
For instance, let’s say your expenses cost $300 more than your monthly net pay. You should review your variable expenses to find ways to cut costs in the amount of $300. This may include reevaluating how much you spend on groceries, household goods, streaming subscriptions and other flexible costs.
It’s a good idea to reduce these costs and regularly make adjustments to the amount of money you spend so you can avoid debt.
On the other hand, if you have more income leftover after listing your expenses, you can increase certain areas of your budget. Ideally, you’d use this extra money to increase your savings, especially if you don’t have an emergency fund. But you could also use the money on non-essential things like dining out or travelling
Next Steps:
After you finish creating a budget, the next step is to stick to it. You can hold yourself accountable in a variety of ways. For starters, you can set reminders with your credit card and bank accounts when you reach a preset spending amount. You should also try tracking all of your expenses into your spreadsheet or budgeting app right after you make a purchase. And if you share expenses with someone else, make sure you’re both on the same page with the budget and keep each other on track.
The Climate Is Changing. The Olympics Need to Change, Too
Dr. Madeleine Orr, The New York Times
The Paris Olympic Games organizers have made significant efforts to reduce carbon emissions, reducing the expected carbon footprint through energy efficiencies, limited new construction, and sourcing sustainably produced goods. They have also raised public awareness about environmental issues. However, international travel contributes significantly to the overall carbon impact, with over half of the emissions coming from spectators and 80% from international fans. Despite these efforts, organizers believe they need to compensate elsewhere in the preparation and running of the events.
ON THE HORIZON
September 10 - Battle of St. George’s Caye Day, Belize
September 16 - International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
Independence Day, St. Kitts and Nevis
September 20 - World Clean Up Day
September 21 - Independence Day, Belize
September 21 - International Coastal Cleanup Day
September 21 - Zero Emissions Day
September 26 - World Environmental Health Day
SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS
Natalya Nurse - September 9th
Mariela Hernandez Ajpop - September 14th
Ian Morrison - September 16th
Sichaga Samuel - September 17th
Tecla Fontenard - September 24th
MONTHLY CHALLENGE
National Pride Competition
September is a month for celebrations in Belize. In this same spirit, we invite staff to decorate their office spaces in country colours On September 20, the Communications Unit will grade the decorated workstations based on creativity, originality, visual impact, and theme consistency. Staff dressed in their national dress or colours on September 20 will get bonus points. For this month, let us decorate and celebrate the diversity of our team.
AUGUST WINNER
TO OUR TEAM!
Daniellie Torres Procurement Assistant