P.G. Resident Working to Change Young Lives

Meet twenty-two-year-old Darnell Oden from Punta Gorda. He is a physical trainer at Peini Fitness Gym who is dedicating his time to youth empowerment. He has also been hosting basketball activities since last year.  Oden spoke with News Five about working on youth development programs through sports.

Darnell Oden, Physical Trainer

Darnell Oden

“We are currently working on a youth developmental program for U12 and also the U16. I also do running events every month because running is also a part of football here in Toledo. I also joined a group with young guys, the Yaad Lights Sporting Department. It starts from the youth and growing up we didn’t have a lot to feed off. So my goal was to affect the youth in a positive way so that the younger generation can follow the same trend. Growing up, I was one of the first guys to ever make it on the youth national team in Belize. I was also studying abroad in Mexico, playing basketball and doing my school and I traveled the southern part of our region, in Central American countries for sporting activities. So I feel there is no hold back, once we work and put time in it, we can achieve anything.”