28 Young Belizeans Receive Youth Resiliency Award

Twenty-eight young Belizeans are proving that resilience pays off. Today, they proudly walked away with the Youth Resiliency Award, a recognition for those who’ve faced tough challenges but refused to give up. Organized by the Community Rehabilitation Department in partnership with UNICEF, the ceremony celebrated these inspiring youths for their determination and personal growth. News Five’s Britney Gordon brings us the story.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

“Grounded in challenge, growing in greatness.” That’s the heart of this year’s Youth Resiliency Awards, and the incredible journey of its twenty-eight recipients. These are young people who were once considered at risk, but today, they’re proof that change is possible. The program, organized by the Community Rehabilitation Department in partnership with UNICEF, celebrates strength, purpose, and transformation. Acting Director, Ganesha Smith, says beyond recognition, it’s about honoring true resilience and personal growth in youth who’ve overcome serious challenges, including conflict with the law.

 

Ganesha Smith, Acting Director. Community Rehabilitation Center

“Our recipients are persons that have engaged with the community rehabilitation over time, they have demonstrated the willingness, the want of support and just the opportunity to make a second chance. The resiliency award came because it’s not a population that people often recognize. And these are persons who have made tremendous strides. They have faced a lot of adversities, and they have been able to demonstrate to us that there is a next chance. There can be a next chance.”

 

The awards encourage recipients to set goals. Seventeen-year-old Keith Dawson, whose continued progress earned him the Leadership award, is among these inspiring youths breaking stigma.

 

Keith Dawson, Award Recipient

“ To be a leader in my community, I have been working chopping yards, helping around doing community service due to what my traffic offense that I was caught with. So that’s how I got this wonderful award and I’m very thankful for it.”

 

Britney Gordon

“So do you feel that you left this experience a better person and that you’ve learned and grown from the entire program?”

 

Keith Dawson

“Yeah, I’ve become a better person and I think that this program is very good for all the youths that are out there doing nothing and this will give them a better head start in life.”

 

Behind today’s Youth Resiliency Awards is a bigger mission, giving young people a second chance. That’s why UNICEF is backing this initiative, pushing for programs like vocational training, community service, and parenting support to help reintegrate at-risk youth and unlock their potential. One shining example is twenty-six-year-old Jerome Vasquez. Once on a troubled path, Jerome worked hand-in-hand with his social worker to turn his life around. Today, he’s using his landscaping skills to earn an honest living and for that incredible transformation, he walked away with the Phoenix Award.

 

Jerome Vasquez, Award Recipient

“I make a lot of people happy with the work I do. They like how I keep their lands very clean. Very nice. One thing I would like to say is do good and good will always follow you. Same goes if you do bad will always follow you as well.”

 

The Diversion Program aims to steer young Belizeans who come in conflict with the law by supporting their psychological needs and helping them to avoid entering the juvenile justice system. Minister of Human Development Thea Garcia-Ramirez highlights the crucial role of social workers in this mission.

 

Thea Garcia-Ramirez, Minister of Human Development

“A lot of the problems that we’re seeing are problems that are tied into family structure that are tied into poverty, for instance, crime, and how all of that feeds in. The ministry was recently renamed and has the component of family support, which we are now highlighting and ensuring that we have even more. Things that the ministry has done, for example, is advocate and have gotten actually cabinets approval to increase the amount of social workers so that we can increase the outreach.”

UNICEF has worked extensively with the Government and Ministry of Human Development to protect children and nurture them to reach their fullest potential. Nineteen-year-old Devin Moody aspires to be a professional basketball player. Today, he received the Rising Star Award as a reminder that his dreams are supported by his community.

 

Devin Moody, Award Recipient

“Being a role model in the community, I have a lot of young men looking up to me saying that I represented Belize on the national team in Argentina last year. So it’s just a great opportunity for me to shine and do good for my community and the young men looking up to me.”

 

The mission to keep youth on track for success cannot be done alone. It takes the support of the community both financially and socially so their environment does not define them, and dreams can become reality. Britney Gordon for News Five.