Belizean youths to take part in global service day
Tomorrow, Belize will join one hundred and twenty countries in celebrating Global Youth Service Day under the theme: Develop a Youth. The day is a first for Belize and has the support of the Youth Department, National Committee for Families and Children and the YMCA According to executive director of the YMCA, Carolyn Genitty, the event will show young people the difference they can make in the community.
Carolyn Genitty, Executive Dir. YWCA
“On that day we’ve decided to focus mainly on planting trees, beautifying the schools, because that’s where they are more or less eight hours of the day while we’re at work. And the opportunity for them to plant a tree, beautify their area and then celebrate what they have done in a clean, healthy environment by going to thank you social and working on a commitment quilt, is one that we’re hoping to engender for each year. So ten schools this year, probably twenty schools next year and then after that we could go from district to district.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“What are some of the schools that will be involved in this pilot project?”
Carolyn Genitty
“Some of the primary schools include St. Luke Methodist, Calvary Temple, Queen Square and then the high schools include Gwen Lizarraga, Wesley College, as well as Ladyville Technical High. And one of the primary schools that we decided to focus on this year, which is weird because usually we don’t go out of the district, so we’re going to Hattieville Government School to focus on a rural area to begin to develop that.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“What would you like the wider Belizean community to learn about the importance of Global Youth Service Day?”
Carolyn Genitty
“The importance is that it happens every single day whether we focus on it in the news, or we decide to just sit home and watch a regular soap opera. Young people are giving back to their community despite the…as I said, while it’s highlighted on TV or radio that they are planting trees, they are volunteering, they are mentoring. They’re doing as best they can with the resources they have.”
The activities begin tomorrow with tree planting ceremonies taking place at various city schools and ends with a social evening at the S.J.C. gym at 6:00 p.m.
