Dear Editor,
Please allow me space in your newspaper to share my utmost perspective on 3 high points that young BELIZEANS should have at heart.
We all know that in an ever changing world, BELIZE needs to adapt quickly, or the country and its people will lose its grasp. Our Government understands this for sure. But they need to reinforce dynamics into its young people. These younger generations today, are fast adapting to technology, internet and cable TV, for instance. However, they need to learn to apply it usefully, and properly to accommodate Education, Entrepreneurship, & Community Service. These high points are areas which must be “worked into” the mentality of the young people in BELIZE to ensure that the future is not only promising, but feasible to growth, and development of the economy.
Let’s take a firm look at EDUCATION. Without a proper education, you can’t be properly employed. Getting an education that encompasses both academics and technical “hands on” experience is a necessity. That is solid education. Majority of young Belizeans today are accustomed to going to school because they “have to” – because their parents send them. That MUST change. Parents are sending their children to school to LEARN, and make the best of themselves. They invest considerable time, and money to ensure that their children could get the best of what they could afford, even if it’s just a little.
Young Belizeans need to change their “lag and learn” mentality to “learn, improvise, and act”. We must take advantage of ALL the opportunities that come forth at school. We must LEARN, LEARN, and LEARN some more. When we try to learn new things, its helps to broaden our scope of knowledge, and aid us to make better, healthier decisions. Education can help us not to move mountains, but to learn to travel the rainforests in BELIZE, and face any challenge of the wild with vibrancy, [literally speaking]. Young people, at first, need to take FULL ADVANTAGE of their educational opportunities because this is your foundation for the future. This is your foundation that would help to build BELIZE in the years to come. Don’t say you will do it tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow. Get up; Stand up, take advantage now.
And some people might say that they are not good in a regular school setting, with academics, and all that. Well, then, you must have a talent somewhere. Probably, its mechanics or construction?! You must enroll into a trade institution that would give you more knowledge needed to become an even better person, and have a brighter future. The TIME is NOW.
Now, it’s time to move into the big picture of ENTREPRENEURSHIP. I have always believed that our young Belizeans need to be properly nurtured about entrepreneurship. It is very important that our young minds bring into action their vivid thoughts. I know many young people today graduating from high school who have vibrant, feasible ideas that could generate tens of thousands of dollars of income. But they are many obstacles that are in their way. Some are lack of financial support, business proposal support, lack of support from families/ network, and the list goes on. I have mentioned it before, and all of us know this fact: BELIZE is rich in natural resources. However, we are not being properly “nurtured” of how to sustainably use these resources. Our young people have many different business ideas in fields ranging from agriculture, business, marine, forestry, furniture, tourism, youth development, etc. However, financial support has been minimal.
What is needed here is more investment on the part of the Government, and International Funding Agencies in these business ideas. I am positive that from Corozal to Toledo, there are thousands of ideas from young people that can help to build this nation. It is of course, up to Government, to give the nod, and for investors to come in, and see what’s special about these ideas, and BELIZE on a whole. These young people also need technical support in terms of fulfilling their proposal design. They need to be given proposal writing workshops to teach them how to draft their core materials, and build a sound business and marketing plan for their project. It will take time, yes, but if we start now, then we can get our economy to bolster. We also need the support from the community. Without community support, our project cannot move forward. As I have mentioned in previous letters, it is OPTIMAL for our young people to be entrepreneurs. We cannot make this high point be blown away. The economy of Belize is STIFF. The people are waiting patiently on a change. They are waiting for our young people to be addressed.
Finally, community service is very essential in our country. Given back to the community, has always been a blessing for me, and my family, as I am sure with other young people in Belize. We must learn to give freely some of our time to foster community love, and a spirit that is captivating in cordial development of all things. We must learn to help the elders, help the young people, help environmental cause, educational events, local charities, and the list goes on. Having a good heart helps you to go a long way. And you never know, by doing community service, you might be “seen for your potential” and good things might come your way: a job, educational opportunities, etc. We learn greatly, from “volunteering”- as it is commonly known. We meet new people. We go to new places. Definitely, community service is plus for all young people. And I am encouraging more young Belizeans to join hands, and lend support to community causes, as it helps to develop you, and your country. Let’s do our part in redefining Belize.
Education, Entrepreneurship, & Community Service are high points for our young BELIZEANS. Our leaders of today, Our Government must ENSURE that young people are being addressed properly and that the necessary areas of development are covered. It’s not I will try or maybe. It’s yes. Always Yes. Young People in Belize deserves the right for their potential to be brought out. It’s doesn’t matter if they are from Belize City or Belmopan, or Crique Sarco Village in Toledo. It’s doesn’t matter if they are rich, middle class, or poor. It’s doesn’t matter if they are Maya, Creole, Mestizo, East Indian or Garifuna. What matters is that in BELIZE everyone should have an equal opportunity to unleash their potential, and become someone. Let’s throw out nepotism, and greed, and selfishness. Let’s fight for sustainable development of our natural resources, and its people.
After all, Belize is in You, Belize is in Me, but we can’t say that we live in the LAND OF THE FREE.
Respectfully Yours,
Kenny Jacobs
Executive Director/ TV Host
Teens Belize Organization/ Developing Toledo TV Show
www.teensbelize.com
