Making the summer GREAT for City youths
The Eastern Division South held the closing for its annual Great Summer Programme. Fifty youths from the south side kicked off the programme on August seventh and it ended on August twenty-fourth with certificates and prizes. The program started four years ago with an aim to engage youths who are at risk of getting involved in gang activities. Andrea Polanco has more:
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
The fourth annual GREAT Summer program wrapped up in Belize City. Fifty children participated in the two week course. They took on sporting and art activities, as well as life skills training.
Insp. Elroy Carcamo, OIC Community Policing ED& Focal Point GREAT, Belize
Insp. Elroy Carcamo
“They participated in different life skill lectures, sporting activities and arts and craft. They did an educational tour to Xunantunich and they also linked with a group that was doing the summer program in San Ignacio. It is something that we bring them together to understand the different dynamics of the culture that we have. The youths that we have with us are some good youths who are working closely with us and they have also pledged to be gang free and work with other programs that we are dealing with the community policing.”
The program targets youths who are most at risk of being recruited by gangs. Inspector Carcamo explains the impact of the program on the lives of the participants.
Insp. Elroy Carcamo
“If they remain out there in the streets, the gang recruits them. These kids are looking for love, appreciate and wants. What we do is that we give them that. The youths that are here, first we use to have to go behind them for them to attend the different programs that we have. But now they come to us. From very early the youths came to us to ask for forms. They want to participate and they keep asking for different activities that we have. It shows the interest that they want to participate and this is what we measure.”
The participants were treated to a day of fun activities with prizes for the closing of the summer programme. They all received a certificate of participation.
Andrea Polanco reporting for News Five.
