Tonight five Belizean youths are on their way to the British Virgin Islands, but it is not for an exotic vacation. The youths, representing five youth groups, are Belize's delegates to the Commonwealth Youth Exchange, which will run from August 10th to the 21st. Two hundred youths will converge to discuss everything from HIV and Aids to youth participation in decision-making. Shawn Gonzales from the YMCA and Rhondine Pitts from the Y-MAD youth group are part of Belize's delegation. Before leaving they told us what are their expectations for the ten days.
Rhondine Pitts, YMAD
"I see myself sitting and discussing the outstanding issues that are youth based. You know Youth for the Future just finished drafting their national youth policy so we will also be discussing ours along wit others there to see if we have basically the same policies in place. If not then maybe they have ideas that we can add to ours or vice versa."
Keith Swift,
Will anything come from this?
Rhondine Pitts,
"I am sure that a lot will come from this."
Shawn Gonzales, YMCA
"Being the first time I am traveling outside for something like I hope that I will gain personal growth and I will come back well equipped to lead and also to gain knowledge in helping the YMCA where I volunteer and in addition to that we will also help the country with all the information that we gain."
The Belize delegation is headed by Alberto Vellos. Along with Pitts and Gonzales, the delegation is rounded out by Travis Simpson from Youth for the Future and Hector Castellanos from the PUP's Belize Youth Movement. Youth for the Future along with the Commonwealth Program are picking up the tab for the trip.
