20 Young Belizeans Begin Technical Training at Orange Walk ITVET

Twenty young Belizeans are now benefiting from a new technical training opportunity under the Breaking Barriers Apprenticeship Program, being implemented at the Orange Walk ITVET Center. The initiative is funded through the Local Engagement and Action Fund (LEAF), a Canadian Government grant program under Global Affairs Canada, which supports youth skills development and training across the Caribbean. Orange Walk ITVET Manager Armando Gomez, Project Manager Cindy Garcia, and the Country Coordinator, Belize, Canada local engagement and action fund (LEAF) Kendra Griffith appeared on love’s morning show today highlighting that the importance of program. Through this partnership, Orange Walk ITVET delivers hands-on instruction in Electrical Installation Level Two, as well as Air Conditioning and Refrigeration. Gomez and Garcia shared that the eight-month program combines classroom learning with practical industry placements, allowing trainees to gain real-world experience while working toward Caribbean Vocational Qualification certification.

Armando Gomez, Orange Walk ITVET Manager: “We are launching yet another wonderful project, another wonderful program and we refer to it as an apprenticeship program. The title of this apprenticeship program is “Breaking Barriers”. We are breaking barriers because we are launching this program to be recognized regionally, not only in Belize, but in the region, in the Caribbean region.”

Cindy Garcia, Project Manager: “The program consists of 20 young Belizean students, trainees or apprentices who are engaged that they will be getting the practical and the technical skills in these two trades so that their skills become more enhanced. Their career will be enhanced as well and also for them to have entrepreneurship opportunities out there in these two trades. The apprentices will go out in the industry for two weeks. They started in May. The beginning of May, they started for two weeks. They were placed at the industries and they report to them from Mondays to Fridays. A week after, they come to the school to do the theory training in these two trades. That is the cycle that they follow for the eight months that will end in December.”

Griffith added that the Local Engagement and Action Fund is designed to support community-driven projects that promote skills development, empowerment, and sustainable growth. She emphasized that partnerships like this with ITVET Orange Walk help ensure students are better equipped with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed.

Kendra Griffith , LEAF Country Coordinator: “Instead of going out and bringing new organizations to Belize, to fix Belize’s problems we’re working with the local organizations, the local institutions because who better knows what opportunities exist, what challenges exist in their communities, like what path to take than the local organizations. In this case, we’ve had the wonderful opportunity to work with Orange Walk ITVET and It’s a pleasure to also be their first donor in 20 years. But what stood out to us specifically about this project is the apprenticeship part of it because I’m pretty sure everyone has already experienced this before, especially people in the workforce or people trying to get into the workforce. The first thing your employer wants is experience. So how are we going to get that experience? So experience, apprenticeship, it bridges the gap between that education and employment. You can’t ask for experience without giving the students an opportunity. And so this is where this training creates opportunity. So I’m very grateful for the industry for allowing these students to become a part of these apprenticeship and so far, of course, we try to focus on gender equality with LEAF and it’s a pleasure so far to have the two young ladies.”

Cindy Garcia noted that only two females are currently enrolled in the program and is encouraging more women to take advantage of opportunities in traditionally male-dominated technical fields, emphasizing the importance of equal participation in vocational training. She also added that they are hopeful that the Breaking Barriers Apprenticeship Program will continue to open doors for more Belizeans seeking technical careers