4H graduates urged to be productive citizens

Over the weekend, thirty-six boys and girls from across the country graduated from the National 4H and Youth Development Centre’s Education Program. During ceremonies held on Saturday at the 4H headquarters in Belmopan, the students received certificates of completion in courses like building technology, service development and small business, in addition to classes designed to prepare them to sit the Primary School Exam. Addressing the graduates was Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Francis Fonseca, who encouraged the youths to be constructive citizens.

Francis Fonseca, Minister in the Office of the P.M.

“Our agenda must be to provide positive pathways for our young people, instilling in them a firm sense of pride and confidence, sharing with them the value and dignity of hard work and the critical importance of discipline, responsibility and respect. While the great majority of our young people, our young Belizeans, are in schools and for the most part on the right track, there are those who feel helpless and hopeless, who are filled with frustration and anger, who believe that everyone is against them. These young people must be given every opportunity to get back on track, to feel loved and cared for. We cannot give up on them. This is why we must work together to expand programs like 4H and we double our efforts to provide the resources necessary to make these programs more effective and national in their scope.”

The next 4H education program is scheduled to start in September. Prospective students between the ages of fourteen to nineteen interested in signing up for the one year course can apply at the National 4H centre in Belmopan, district youth offices or the Youth for the Future Secretariat in Belize City.