Ashcroft Rehab Center

The History

In the early part of 2005, Lord Michael Ashcroft was invited to and subsequently visited the Belize Central Prison. Upon completion of the visit, he pledged his assistance to the effort. Shortly thereafter, an email was received from him stating he was prepared to donate $250,000.00 (Bze)  for any needy project that the Foundation could come up with. The immediate response was for a drug rehab center. Plans were immediately drawn up and a proposal was submitted. It was quickly approved and within a month of his initial contact, ground was broken and construction started.

The 8,000 square foot building was of concrete structure with zinc roofing and designed in the shape of the letter T. On each tip of the wing was a large open room serving as dorm and classroom. It is designed as a self contained building with kitchen and quarters for staff as the pogram was a live in program.

Construction was completed at the end of 2005 and completion of furnishing was achieved by the end of March. The building was now ready for the first intake.

At this point it should be noted that contact was made with Prison Fellowship International on the issue of setting up a Drug Rehab Center in the Prison. Their assistance was sought as they were the recognised experts. They pointed to a program that was currently underway in Mexico called Ave Fenix that was the brainchild of Mr. Raymundo Leal. The program had achieved very good success both within and outside the prison system. Contact was made with Mr Leal and arrangements were made for a first hand view of the program in action in Mexico. Two members of the Board went over for a viewing and came back convinced that that program was the way to go.

Arrangements were made for a team of 6 from the Belize Central Prison to go over to Chihuahua for a 4 month internship of the actual running of the program. They were interned at the Chihuahua State Prison and returned to Belize in December of 2005.

This team was earmarked as the team to head the Rehab Center in Belize. They left Belize for Chihuahua on the 4th August 2005 and returned all fired up with enthusiasm on the 2nd December 2005. They got to work with the first selection of inmates and with the scheduling and the program.

The 12 Step Recovery Program of Alcoholics Anonymous form the basis of the Ashcroft Rehabilitation Center but are not the only programs taught.  Throughout the 90 day intensive therapy program, the interns partake in round table meetings and normal meetings as well as being instructed in the spiritual aspects of recovery.

In addition, aid from the US Embassy, enabled us to teach a cognitive behavioral treatment curriculum know as a New Direction which is based on a collaboration of chemical dependency professionals from the Minnesota Department of Corrections and the Hazelden Foundation.  These lessons include Intake Orientation, Criminal & Addictive Thinking, Drug & Alcohol Education, Socialization, Relapse Prevention, and Release & Reintegration.  These lessons are aimed at assisting chemically dependent offenders to map a life of recovery and freedom. These lessons are taught in both English & Spanish. Essentially the program and the centre is an addiction program/centre. It is spiritual based and teaches the seven capital sins. No matter what the addiction, it caters to that problem, helping the individual to recognise what his problem is and to start on the path of recovery.

On the 1st April 2006, the Ashcroft Rehabilitation Center opened its doors and welcomed the first generation of interns included 52 inmates of which 49 graduated on the 2nd July 2006.  On the 17th July 2006, the second generation started with 83 interns and on the 15th of October 2006, 72 of these interns graduated.

The Team

The team in charge of the facility, headed by Mr. Juan Vega, are all recovering addicts of one type or the other. They provide all the necessary logistics to allow the program to function properly. It is totally a residence program even for the staff. Once started they are all sequestered for the 90 day period.

Juan Vega is currently the Director of the facility.          He is a recovering addict and an ex-inmate.He has lost his home, family, job - everything of value. He knows what it is like to be homeless, living in a public park and eating scraps from the garbage to survive. His main trade is construction, a trade that he is well versed in. His life changed when he volunteered to go to Chihuahua. Since his return he has been the person leading the rehab effort in the facility. He has taken the concept of a local Belizean program and turned it into a reality. He has truly discovered himself and is now the resident expert when it comes to rehabilitation.