Y.M.C.A. teaches students communication skills

While the students of Toledo Community College vent their anger on the streets, those at Pallotti High School in Belize City are being taught how to settle disputes in a different manner. A two month training course being conducted by the Young Men’s Christian Association started on Monday. Y.M.C.A.’s Youth Coordinator Mirna Paul says its the first in a series of basic leadership courses for secondary school students.

Mirna Paul, Youth Coordinator, YMCA

“We’re hoping to have an annual event. We’re going to continue this training, it?s going to be a certified program. The students that complete the program will be able to receive a certificate and as well they’re going to be doing a sixteen hour community project with Y.M.C.A.”

Martha Carrillo, Guidance Councilor, Pallotti

“We are trying to introduce the students to some developmental courses. We understand that it?s not only the academic aspect that needs to be developed. We also think about the psychological and emotional part of it and so we think that as first formers they will definitely benefit from this. The program itself does not only include communication skills but also conflict resolutions, peer mediation, personality development, a lot of issues that young people are faced with today and we would hope that these girl’s will be able to benefit from all of these courses.”

One hundred and five first form students of Pallotti are enrolled in the first series of training courses which will be held three times per week for the next two months.