Youth Innovation Takes Center Stage at Belize Creative Youth Ideas Summit

Around forty high school students from various schools gathered in Belize City today for the fourth annual Belize Creative Youth Ideas Summit. Students sat through presentations centered on the connection between culture and innovation and held round table discussions on these topics. They also made presentations of their own on how technology and innovation could be used to further develop Belize’s cultural sector. The summit was hosted at the Belize City House of Culture by the National Celebrations Commission. Chair of the Commission, Minister of Education Francis Fonseca, said that the summit was his brainchild because he wanted youths to have an event where they could speak on what they feel are national priorities.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education: “When I became the chairman of the National Celebrations Commission almost four years ago, I had a discussion with the commission and I said to them, listen I think one of the things missing from our September Celebrations calendar is the young people. Having them fully engage with what September means for them, what independence means for them. And so I thought that it was important for us to establish this sort of dialogue, this youth dialogue, to make sure that young people had a space where they could talk about their priorities, their interests, issues that are important to them. Not what we are saying is important, but what they are saying is important. This year, the theme is culture and innovation. That’s the theme they chose. So we’re talking today about that intersection, that link between culture and innovation. How can we use innovation to drive culture and to talk, you know, to ensure that our young people who are so much involved with innovation how can we then use that innovation to make them understand and appreciate their culture more. You know and love that culture more. Ultimately what we want is young people who love Belize and who are inspired by their past but committed to moving forward with new creative ideas.”

Anahi Canul, Counselor of Pallotti High School, says that the school sent peer helpers to the event, so that they could, in turn, share the information with their fellow schoolmates.

Anahi Canul, Counselor, Pallotti Highschool:  “We got peer helpers to attend, usually mostly fourth formers. We believe that these girls have been in mostly leadership positions. So coming to an event to learn about culture, not only culture, but about our country really helps them to be well-rounded and to be able to actually just not acknowledge about their own surrounding but be able to actually share that with other students back at school. So usually I believe peer helpers are trained to be able to not only assist students but to be able to bring in awareness when it comes to not only educational matters but when it comes to emotional well-being. So we believe that bringing them here allows them to interact with other students from different schools but also learn about you know different topics like education, engineering, technology, science, all of it. So that helps us to really adapt them to that and they can share that with their peers.” 

Reporter: What are you hoping that your girls will leave the event with? 

Anahi Canul, Counselor, Pallotti Highschool: “I think mostly based on the presentations this morning is that they’re able to really realize that they have more potential than they think they have. That they can actually become that leader that our country needs and take that wherever they go, even if it’s their job or maybe college or whatever path they take after.”

The 501 Academy, the Institute of Archaeology, and the Institute of Social and Cultural Research facilitated the presentations to the students.