Heal Up With Roots Combats Gang Violence

Another program is the “Heal up With Roots” Initiative where sixty Belize City residents are being trained to act as mediators in their communities. DYS is utilizing the cure violence model and participants learn basic counseling and intervention skills. It is a long term approach to addressing the issue of gang violence. We spoke to Behavioral Expert, Sheree Lino, about the initiative.

Sheree Lino

Sheree Lino, CEO, Evolve with Integrity

“The participants build confidence. After a short day of training, they were capable of having a better understanding as to what mental illness is. They were more confident in being able to share either personal experience with applying these interventions. More importantly, they were willing to share the material to be able to help others to understand that the services exist and how to gain access to it. So the participants in it speak for the confidence as to how they are going to be able to apply these interventions.”

Lincoln Kelly

Lincoln Kelly, Participant

“Whenever we have to interact with deh young people, we would get to them and have one on one with them and look pan the challenges deh the face and then we see how we could help with these challenges so they don’t reach that point where they get to violence. It is always important fih have good role models, because good role models help young people so that they could stay on that straight path and make the best of their self.”