Can Young Minds Fix Belize’s Biggest Problems?

Belize’s future is not only being discussed by policymakers. Young people are stepping forward with their own vision for the country. With Belize’s fiftieth anniversary of independence approaching in 2031, students from across the nation gathered for the fifth annual Belize Creative Youth Ideas Summit. They confronted some of the country’s most pressing challenges, including crime, healthcare, climate change and economic development, and pitched bold solutions for the Belize they want to inherit. News Five’s Britney Gordon attended the summit and spoke with the young minds determined to help shape Belize’s next chapter.

 

Leesha St. Claire, Participant

“The first thing we found that was a big problem to us is that eating healthy cost more than eating fast food so how do we implement that?”

 

Rajiv Ramsey, Participant

“Centers like the hub on Chetumal Boulevard, we believe that centers like that can be a great benefit to Belizean youths.”

 

Stephanie Remirez, Participant

“Include in the school curriculum for the responsible use of AI because we were talking about how AI is used now and it’s a part of our world.”

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

The conversations shaping Belize’s future are starting with the challenges people face today. At the fifth annual Youth Ideas Summit in Belize City, young participants tackled everyday concerns, from crime and healthcare to climate change. But they were also asked to look beyond today’s problems and imagine the Belize they want to see when the country celebrates fifty years of independence. Summit Coordinator Kevin Chen explains how that vision guided the day’s discussions.

 

Kevin Chen, Summit Coordinator, National Celebrations Commission

“Here at the summit they will have the opportunity to present those ideas. And of course there will be questions fielded from members of the audience and that provides the opportunity for those ideas to be tested. After the summit today an outcomes document will be compiled, and this is of course usually presented by the Honorable Francis Monseka. He is the chairman of the National Celebrations Commission and also the Minister of Culture. He in turn takes that document to cabinet and take action there.”

 

Over five years, the summit has evolved from focus groups to panel discussions, but its goal remains the same: turn young people’s ideas into action. Chen says institutions are turning the summit’s recommendations into meaningful conversations and action. Culture Minister Francis Fonseca welcomes the report each year.

 

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Culture

“I want to assure you that report and we present it to the cabinet, We present ot to the Prime Minister, we present it to all of the other ministers so that they have an opportunity to read it. So that they can understand what you are thinking and what you are sharing and what are your views on the future of Belize.”

 

The summit brought together thirty-six students from six tertiary institutions. For eighteen-year-old psychology major Nyla Burgess, the summit is a chance for young people to turn their ideas into community action.

 

Nyla Burgess, Participant

“Contributing all of our ideas, we can try to make a change because Belize is definitely a growing country.”

 

This year’s discussions covered education, healthcare, sports, science, climate change and culture. Britney Gordon for News Five.

 

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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