Young Belizeans Share Their Vision for Belize at 50

Young Belizeans are being given a direct voice in shaping the country they want to inherit as Belize looks ahead to its fiftieth anniversary of Independence.  The fifth annual Belize Creative Youth Ideas Summit was held today at the House of Culture, bringing together students from St. John’s College, Nazarene High School, Gwen Lizarraga High School and the Institute for Technical and Vocational Education and Training.  This year’s summit challenged the participants to consider a central question: if Belize is forty-five today, what should the country look like five years from now when it celebrates Belize at 50?  Students worked together to identify national challenges and propose practical and ambitious ideas in areas including education, employment, technology, the environment and opportunities for young people.

The summit also created a space for government officials to listen directly to the generation that will help lead Belize into its next major chapter. Minister of Education, Culture, Science and Technology Francis Fonseca says the views of young people are important to the country’s planning for Belize at 50.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education: “We started this five years ago. And the whole idea behind it was really to bring some of our young bright minds together. Together in a room, together in a space where you could share your ideas the Belize that you want to see. Critically important. I want to assure you that we take that report and we present it to the cabinet. We present it to the Prime Minister. We present it to all of the other ministers so that they have an opportunity to read it and to understand what you are thinking, what you are sharing, your views on the future of Belize.”

For the students, the summit provided more than an opportunity to discuss their concerns. It allowed them to offer solutions and explain how they believe Belize can become more inclusive, innovative and responsive to the needs of its young population.  The wider challenge will be ensuring that the proposals move beyond discussion and contribute to future policies and programmes.  Belize’s fiftieth anniversary remains five years away, but through the Creative Youth Ideas Summit, the country’s young people are already helping to imagine and shape the Belize they want to see in 2031.