Youth Hostel benefits from U.S. help

As an institution, the Youth Hostel plays an important role in helping troubled youth get control of their lives. Today, the facility was rewarded for its efforts with an important donation. News Five’s Kendra Griffith reports.

Kendra Griffith, Reporting
This morning the residents and staff of the Youth Hostel celebrated the opening of their newly refurbished boys? dormitory.

Robert Dieter, U.S. Ambassador to Belize
?The renovations were extensive. There was a complete rewiring of the building, a new roof and floor tiling throughout, all bathroom fixtures were replaced and a new septic system installed. The entire facility was repainted, new light fixtures, ceiling fans are gonna go in and the doors were replaced.?

Kendra Griffith
?What was the state of the buildings before the renovations??

Dean Fuller, Board Chairman, Youth Hostel
?It was in really a bad condition. I think the bathrooms were the areas that need the most refurbishment and also storage areas for the youths.?

Glendamae Martinez, Chief Supervisor, Youth Hostel
?Now that we have improved our building, we will try to maintain what we have, so that we get the best out of our programme.?

The project, which also includes renovating the girls? facility, is estimated to cost over two hundred thousand Belize dollars. Funding was provided by the U.S. Southern Command?s Humanitarian Assistance Programme.

Dean Fuller
?This was something that we worked on two years ago and it became reality by making a application with the U.S. M.L.O., going through the process of getting the funds allocated, and they then started construction earlier this year. It is scheduled to complete the female?s dorm by the end of January.?

Robert Dieter
?It?s our hope that the bright cheery atmosphere will allow you to reflect on your life and to understand that it is also your responsibility to make changes in your life, that everything can?t be done for you, that you have a responsibility to try to make the changes that you know you need to make in order to make your lives productive and become a full member of Belizean society.?

This morning?s ceremony was also used to highlight another important Youth Hostel event.

Vildo Marin, Minster of Agriculture and Fisheries
?Today also marks the beginning of Youth Hostel Awareness Week, which is being celebrated under the theme: These are our Children, Let?s Love Them and Help Them to Reach Their Full Potential, No Matter What.?

Glendamae Martinez
?We plan to go into schools and to share with students the work that the Youth Hostel do and we also are trying tirelessly to change the negative image of the Youth Hostel. Because I want each and everyone to know that these kids here are special and valuable all we need to do is nurture them.?

To help with that nurturing, Chief Supervisor Glendamae Martinez is calling on Belizeans to become mentors for the twenty boys and eighteen girls currently housed at the institution.

Glendamae Martinez
?We believe that if each child has a mentor while he or she is in the programme, and most importantly, after the child leaves the programme will enable that child to cope more effectively with the challenges that he or she faces in the world today. In addition, with the positive support and the guidance from their mentor, this child will be able to become a more productive citizen of Belize and the world at large.?

To become a mentor, please contact Glendamae Martinez at 209-6116.

Kendra Griffith reporting for News Five.

Other projects being funded by the U.S. Humanitarian Assistance Programme includes a Disaster Relief warehouse for NEMO in Big Creek, a youth training facility at the prison, and the construction of classrooms in Trial Farm, Carmelita, Crooked Tree, and Hattieville.