Washing Cars to Change Lives  

If your car is in desperate need of a wash, the YMCA is inviting you to visit their Shine for the High School Program on May thirty-first. It’s an annual drive-through car wash operated by high school students to raise money for the YMCA’s programs and empower youths through meaningful work. Today, we visited the car wash for a sneak peek of the experience. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the story.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

If you’ve been cruising around Belize lately, your car probably looks like it’s been through a desert. Dust is everywhere, but there’s a fresh way to fight back. The Young Men’s Christian Association of Belize (YMCA) is rolling out a drive-through car wash to help you clean up in style. It’s fast, easy, and all for a good cause. Executive Director Dr. Clara Cuellar says the event is more than just a wash, it’s a way to support the community while keeping your ride looking sharp.

 

Dr. Clara Cuellar, Executive Director, YMCA Belize

“So they’re learning the processes and procedures in this case, in a car wash. And that gives them the opportunity to learn new skills, new vocabulary, and to put it in action. For example, everybody likes to use power wash, but now learn it properly and move the hose around without slipping off the power washer, eithter an electrical cord or the plumbing system. They have to figure that out.”

 

At YMCA Belize, it’s not just about soap and water, it’s about shaping futures. The organization runs a variety of programs to support young men in the community, from homework help to sports and field trips. Now, they’ve added a drive-through car wash to the mix. It’s designed to teach teens valuable life skills like time management and work ethic, while delivering a sparkling clean car in just fifteen minutes. Seventeen-year-old Youth Leader Devaughn Lopez says the best part? Teamwork.

 

Devaughn Lopez, Youth Leader, YMCA

“Well, the one thing that I learned from this, well, we always learn is that everything we do here at the YMCA, but it’s teamwork. Because teamwork, if we work as a team to accomplish any goal that we want.”

A ticket costs just twenty dollars, and all funds are channeled back into YMCA programs.

 

Dr. Clara Cuellar

“When they come here, they are able to get the use of computers for whatever assignments they have. They have free internet, free printing, and all the projects. Parts and components they need. They are, everybody gets something to eat because everybody, when we come home from school, we’re hungry so they get something to eat. So it’s to fund the program of their being inside of it.”

 

After completing their wash, the participants huddle up to discuss their strengths and weaknesses in the operations, paving the way for a stronger approach. Devaughn explained how grateful he is to be learning these skills and working for a worthy cause.

 

Devaughn Lopez

“Well these skills are very helpful to me just in case that I like get a car in the future from my adulthood when I have a job and things. So when I do, if I have get my own car clean, instead of going to other businesses to get my wash clean, I could do it myself. So that helps me in the future to save more money.”

 

The team is hoping to achieve washing one hundred cars in one day. Britney Gordon for News Five.

 

The car wash will be in operation this Saturday from seven thirty a.m. to five p.m.