And if you're both down on your luck and newly released from prison, there's good news for your reintegration.
That's because the foundation that runs the prison along with the Love Foundation, and the U.S. Embassy in Belize have come together to fund community resource hubs for those in your exact situation.
They'd already launched one hub in the Yarbrough area and this afternoon our news team was invited to the launch of a second hub this one in the St. Martin's area.
It was a simultaneous graduation and launch today for the Saint Martin's one stop Auto Care shop. It's a Mechanic shop but it's also a part of a larger project. One aimed at creating entrepreneurial opportunities for former gang members by creating community resource hubs in each of the historically underserved Belize City communities of Yarborough, St. Martin's Area, and George Street.
And this afternoon we got to talk to two men who've managed to turn their lives around and now look forward to a brand new business venture which they hope will bring personal success to them and financial stability to their families.
Japeth Bennet, Mechanic
"I always look on dreams and opportunities. I like to make goals and plans and try to be successful, so for me this would be a good success for us. I always like things like this, put myself to new challenges and try to become something different. Most of the guys here went through no training. They grew up like the fixing tyres and they would see works and memorizing stuff. Some kids are not good at school work, but when you put them to do that hard work then you see the knowledge kicked in. Once you start to do that it build strength for each other and the older folks helps us. They show us things and if we don't know it we ask."
Albert Cloto, Mechanic/Spokesperson
"Some of the guys are going to have a regular job. We also try to work with the youths in the community to keep them away from crime and violence so that they don't have to make the same mistake we made, or go down the same road we went."
And this second resource hub got its startup funds through partnerships with the Kolbe Foundation, The Love Foundation and the U.S. Embassy. We caught up with the Charge' after he stepped down from the podium and he told us why the program is so important for the successful reintegration of formally incarcerated men.
Keith Gilges, Charge d Affaires
"This is over a 5 month period. We've been able to put some money towards it, LOVE Foundation, KOLBE, the people and it's really about giving these folks a second chance. People that have often been stigmatize because they have done time in prison or they've been part of gangs, but they themselves have chosen a new path. And so this program is all about giving them that second chance."
Cherisse Halsall:
"Charge a car is a very expensive asset. It's one that a lot of households have to guard assiduously what would you say to households that maybe wouldn't have as much confidence putting their cars in the hands of ex cons?"
Keith Gilges, Charge d Affaires
"Listen this is about second chances and when you see somebody that took the easy way earlier and maybe went down a path that wasn't great and paid a price for it and turned around and said I'm not going to continue down that path, they've chosen something remarkable and so part of this is saying to the community we all need to keep an open mind and we need to say listen they've chosen something different. They are building faith and building trust in the community. These guys are working hard and they are not saying give us anything. They are saying we will work for it."
A new start at a new dream but one that will require a lot of hard work and a lot of trust building.
Albert Cloto, Mechanic/Spokesperson
"We will be offering full auto-care. You can come and get your oil changed if you have a problem with your vehicle now you can come over we'll diagnose the problem and fix it."
One more community resource hub is set to be launched on George street in 2021.
