Over the next few weeks as many as 50 at-risk young men will leave the city and head for the remote hills of Cayo to take up jobs at the Chalillo dam site. They are part of a work program facilitated by Youth for the Future's Violence Reduction Unit.
The youths will be doing various tasks at the site but whatever they'll be doing, it's a steady job, which is more than most of them have ever known. It's a big break and a major transition, and these newly hired construction workers told Keith Swift why they are jumping at this opportunity.
Keith Swift Reporting, Email - [keithkswift@gmail.com]
These youths from the city are electricians, plumbers, welders, some are regular construction workers, and there are those who've never held a job. But next week they will all begin their new jobs - 90 miles away in the hills of Cayo at the Chalillo Dam site.
Sheldon Lewis, Electrician
"There is really nothing to do right now in the city and the Youth for the Future is helping us right now to get an end so we'll see how that will work out."
23-year-old Sheldon Lewis, an out of work electrician, has jumped at the opportunity to work at Chalillo. He says though it's only for the short-term its better than what he is doing now...and that is nothing.
Sheldon Lewis,
"I am an electrician but no jobs are out here. Right now I am an electrician and linesman but right now there are no jobs so I am looking forward to get better in electrician when I get up there."
Keith Swift,
If you weren't heading up to Chalillo what would you be doing?
Sheldon Lewis,
"Same old thing...nothing. We prepared for the change because we want something different, it will be better because we will be out of the city and thing so I think it will work out."
28-year-old Francis Nolberto is also banking on succeeding at the dam site. He is a mason and was also unemployed.
Francis Nolberto, Mason
"I am a skilled man, I am a mason and I just hope that everything works
out. If they have anything concerning masonry and thing that is what we have to deal with because what you put in is what you take out."
Keith Swift,
Are you ready for the change from Belize City to the Chalillo dam site?
Francis Nolberto,
"Well I feel proud I am out of the city because the life here is very rough and I want to go outside to see what outside is all about."
The Chalillo job placement was coordinated through Youth for the Future's Violence Reduction Unit. Today director Douglas Hyde held a motivational session to hype up these youths for their new jobs on the hills in Chalillo.
Douglas Hyde, Youth for the Future
"Today's session is to get them motivated, to get them hyped up about the job and more or less to get them ready for the job. They are various manual work at Chalillo; construction, electrical, welding, mechanic, and a whole heap of other things. They are going to help. They are not going to be direct technical persons, because Chalillo has its own technical group, but they are going to work closely with the persons who are the main workers there."
The first group of 10 begin work on Monday. They will live and work at the dam site. They will get an opportunity to return to the city two weekends a month. The youths will be working for Sino-Hydro, the Chinese contractors who are building the dam. Their employment should last for the duration of construction which is scheduled for completion in late September.
