240 Youths Graduate from Belize National Youth Training Institute
The Department of Youth Services hosted a graduation ceremony today for two hundred and forty youths who successfully completed nine months of learning with the Belize National Youth Training Institute. These individuals have been engaged in virtual and in-person sessions on cell phone repair, small engine repair, hospitality and on-the-job training. It is the third cohort of graduates who were beaming with pride today at Bird’s Isle. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
They proudly received their certificates of completion today having participated in months of training. They learned a new skill or craft that prepared them to either take up space within an organization or to become entrepreneurs. Cohort three of the Belize National Youth Training Institute graduated today in the presence of their peers and parents.
Walton Garbutt
Walton Garbutt, Deputy Director, Department of Youth Services
“We have individuals from our small programs as well as for our on the job training, our cohort from last year. The department did a youth assessment and out of that came quite a few things. One of them was the need for the creation of jobs and opportunities for young people. So the department took heed and developed a lot of programs catered to the needs within the communities. So we are catering for small engine repairs, we have cell phone repairs, which are the small programs. The institute is focused on tourism – whether that be customer service or front desk, building and maintenance, agriculture. So we are trying to do a lot, majority of which is being done through distance learning.”
Karina Guzman is graduating from the tourism and hospitality program. It is something that she has dreamed of and now forms part of the foundation as an entrepreneur to provide tour guide services to Belizean and international tourists.
Karina Guzman
Karina Guzman, Graduate, Belize National Youth Training Institute
“I always dreamt of being a tour guide so when I got the opportunity to take this course, I didn’t think twice. I came and now I am successfully graduating from this course. For my future endeavours, I am planning to do a business with tourism, working with different tourism boards and taking tourists to different cayes, have different options for them to choose from. The course has taught me how to get along with people, how to work along with groups and it has taught me how to be independent.”
A few B.D.F. soldiers also enrolled in the program, learning several trades including cell phone repair and the building and maintenance programs. The Belize Defense Force has a Light Engineering Company, for which the skills learnt, can readily be applied.
Leshawn Trapp
Leshawn Trapp, Graduate, Belize National Youth Training Institute
“I am already a soldier, but I don’t want to be only a soldier. But I don’t want to be only a soldier. You can’t only have one path in life; you gotta have more than one path in life. So if by chance I decide to choose a different career path, then I will always have a second and third choice.”
Shedrick Castillo
Shedrick Castillo, Graduate, Belize National Youth Training Institute
“The experience was really good, I can’t complain. A bit challenging because of the heat; we di work under the sun, but I can’t complain. From I young I really like deal with phones so it wasn’t really that hard for make I grasp that. But I learn more in-depth. I am a soldier like Leshawn so the skill that will help me in my career as a soldier too is the building and maintenance. Like the young man mentioned, the LEC department. I have to try and get there and help work too, teach my knowledge to the next intake that is coming up.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
