31.1 C
Belize City
Thursday, March 28, 2024

World Down Syndrome Day

Photo: Students and staff of Stella Maris...

BPD awards 3 officers with Women Police of the Year

Photo: (l-r) Myrna Pena, Carmella Cacho, and...

Suicide on the rise!

Photo: Iveth Quintanilla, Mental Health Coordinator by Charles...

Belize’s young, talented, and educated citizens need more opportunities

FeaturesBelize’s young, talented, and educated citizens need more opportunities

Recent data from the Statistical Institute of Belize shows that in 2020, persons under 30 years old comprised 64% of the national population. This is quite consistent with the 2010 census that also showed a 64% portion of the population being comprised by this group. Of Belize’s entire population, persons between ages 30 and 54, just before retirement age, represented 27% of the population. Those who are over 55 years old represented 9% of the population.

This consistently high percentage of youths and children in our population has stirred within me deep concerns about its implications for Belize’s future, especially given the lack of employment and empowerment opportunities for youths trying to properly nurture and express their talents or utilize the skills or education that they have attained.

As a relatively young country, which gained political independence in 1981, Belize does not seem to have sufficient numbers of strong and stable markets, industries and institutions to absorb large numbers of youth who seek to further develop themselves and contribute to national development. Consequently, even though Belize is full of youthful energies and so much potential, many youths feel alienated and increasingly frustrated, such that the only alternative they see is to migrate abroad to seek better opportunities.

Many young Belizeans who through hard work, developed world-class levels of skill, talent, and educational achievement often find themselves in a position where they cannot even find a suitable job in their home country if they are not closely politically connected and favored. Many talented young artists, singers, musicians, athletes, scientists, and engineers seem to hit a “glass ceiling” in their efforts to advance themselves.

After making themselves qualified with a university-level education, I have heard very many stories of youths who return home highly motivated to work, only to find themselves feeling very frustrated, dejected, and even depressed when all their years of dedication, sacrifice and family investments to make them qualified, only result in unemployment or underemployment in their own country.

This is especially troubling, since a large number of those who migrate from Belize are skilled or highly educated individuals. This consistent trend in loss of valuable human capital is seen as one of the main reasons why developing countries remain “developing” and why developed countries maintain their current status quo. Just as in developed countries, developing nations need talented citizens to contribute to the nation’s positive growth and socio-economic development. If Belize is to move forward, government, private sector, civil society, all key development players, and we the young people of this country must take serious steps to harness the talents not only of those who are qualified and motivated to contribute, but also those who desire to further qualify themselves.

Perhaps the creation of the Ministry of New Growth Industries is a great first step, if there are clear, visionary and strategic actions taken to increase opportunities for citizens, especially the youth. At the same time, deep reforms in our education system are needed in order for youths to gain practical skills within and outside the school system. Within the school system emphasis should be made on encouraging students to create their own jobs and be self-sustaining.

Although it may take several years to start solving some of the problems that lead to “brain drain” in our country, sticking to the same old policies for national development can only produce the same old results. Citizens can work alongside government to pool ideas and work to develop fresh new approaches to be envisioned and implemented. Striving for and strategically engaging in economic diversification, for example, would be a great step in developing more industries. The creation of more service-oriented economies such as in Barbados could help, as this would utilize skilled labor and also create more employment for youths. The practice by government officials of hiring persons based on political and family connections rather than by merit also must stop, as this practice also stifles our country’s growth and frustrates skilled personnel.

Programs to lure Belizeans in the diaspora and providing incentives for them to invest in Belize can also be considered. Such programs would serve to not only create employment but to engage diaspora Belizeans in the transfer of knowledge which they gained abroad and in efforts to help contribute to economic growth and diversification. This will also help Belizeans abroad to feel more connected to their home country and its development.

Belize has an abundance of youths who are seeking to be an integral part of the nation’s development. Leaders and all of us could start thinking out of the box to develop more strategies to integrate youths at all levels of the development process. This will ensure real sustainable development well into the future.

Check out our other content

World Down Syndrome Day

Suicide on the rise!

Check out other tags:

International