Belize, Guatemala Youths Paint Vision for Peace

Seventeen young people from the Belize-Guatemala Adjacency Zone have come together to create a mural promoting peace, community cooperation, and protection of the Mopan River.

The mural was unveiled at the Ta’amay Training and Peace Promotion Centre in El Arenal, Guatemala, as part of an OAS-supported youth initiative called “La Zona / The Zone” and its innovation lab, “La Zona Lab”.

The young participants worked together to identify issues affecting their communities before designing and painting the mural. The artwork includes cultural and natural elements representative of Benque Viejo del Carmen and Arenal, while promoting peaceful coexistence and protection of the Mopan River.

OAS Secretary General Albert Ramdin says involving young people is important because peace cannot be built through diplomatic negotiations alone. “Community development is fundamental. If it is only about negotiations and dialogue, it is not enough,” Ramdin said, adding that young people need to have a sense of ownership in the peace process.

Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca said, “La Zona is a part of that work of educating people about the process that’s taking place, educating people about Belize, about Guatemala, about our communities.