Youth Connect Hub Opens to Support Students in Belize City

The Belize City Council has officially launched its second Youth Connect Student Hub, expanding opportunities for students across the city. At this new facility, located at the Hope Center, students can access free internet services, tutoring, mentorship, and academic support. Mayor of Belize City, Bernard Wagner, emphasized that the hub is designed to provide essential resources that many students may not have access to at home, helping to bridge the gap in educational support.

Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City:“That first hub really has been a game changer in the city in terms of delivering the sort of institution where our kids can go after school to get mentoring, to get tutoring, to help with their homework. I would say given the past year that within that first hub we have served over 500 kids in that hub and we’re anticipating with the addition of this, this additional hub it’s really an investment, It’s a strategy really to invest in our youth now. For this facility, it is about 20 here at this facility. At the downtown City Hall it’s approximately 50. This is a very strategic area given that it serves Lake I,  Pickstock and Freetown Division, so we felt that this was a very strategic area. But we want to really expand the hub initiative. It’s a part of our broader plan of really driving youth development and providing the spaces that they can learn in a nice environment.” 

Minister of Youth and Sports, Anthony Mahler, envisions expanding this hub initiative nationwide. When asked about its feasibility, he emphasized that this is one of those vital social projects for which funding must be secured, because every young person deserves a fighting chance at success.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Youth and Sports: “I truly believe that if a large portion of the people who graduate form primary school don’t graduate from high school then to compete as a nation in this digital age we will struggle and I truly believe that when many of the kids get home they don’t hav the necessary support at home and so I think after school programs like this definitely help our young people in terms of staying in school, advancing in terms of their education. Like I said earlier on education doesn’t guarantee anything but it is a crucial part for us to be able to compete as human beings. We’re doing a full assessment of the country then we will have a discussion on how much it will cost to roll out these in strategic locations. It has to be feasible, this is a social program so wherever the money comes to support it we will ensure that it’s there. Most of this was done through our community development fund which we utilize in the best way possible.”

The first hub was opened in March 2023.