They may have mastered the mean streets, back-alleys, canals, and ins-and outs of this concrete jungle we call Belize City but tomorrow morning eight city youths will go into uncharted territory that can be more challenging than the daily terror of the inner city streets. The youths are part of a Youth for the Future expedition to jungles of Southern Belize which hopes to teach these youths that Belize is more than just the gritty city. 7NEWS was there for the sendoff as they left today.
James Welch: I am excited because I just want to go find out what the jungle is all about and find out something I never know before.
KS: Have you ever been in the jungle?
James Welch: No sir.
KS: So you think you'll be able to handle it?
James Welch: I think so because I am not a coward, I'm brave.
Rashide Myvette: I excited because it is the first time I'm going out in the jungle and I would want to find out what it is like to be out there. I think I will be able to make it because to me it is challenging but it will be easy in a sense.
16-year-old James Welch and Rashide Myvette aren't packed and ready to go on a school trip - these teens are part of a programme for at-risk youths who are being taken from their hoods and into the jungle of southern Belize by Trekforce Expeditions. The trek is being coordinated by Youth for the Future's Violence Reduction Unit.
Douglas Hyde,
"The idea of the trek is to take these youths out of the street setting where they are already accustomed to and take them into a different environment and show how they could more appreciate life, experience the freedom of life, and more or less to look on things that what would have been negative in the streets that they could come and use positive in this experience. Its going to be away from home, for some of them this is the first time going out in a setting like this, the weekend which they would spent out on the streets they will be in a forest, a jungle, so they its going to be a mental challenge for them. We are taking persons like myself that are going to work with them personally everyday one on one."
And it promises to be a grueling 5 days in the wilderness. They will cover 34 miles, wading through streams, walking through caves, and trekking along Indian Creek's path. But these street savvy teens they have conquered the concrete jungle and they are ready for the real jungle.
James Welch: It will be really challenging but I will fight it and I will try to make it so I could just succeed and try handle it.
Rashide Myvette: I will could handle it; it will be easy.
KS: What have you packed for the trip?
James Welch: A lot of long pants, mostly long sleeves, toilet papers, and most of the things you will need.
Rashide Myvette: I packed clothes, Colgate, toilet paper, and stuff like that; basically what you will need.
The trekkers return on Monday morning.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited and Prepared for the internet by Keith Swift
