On May 21, 2026, a landmark two-year initiative focused on cultivating youth engagement in governance marked a major milestone, as the youth component of the program wrapped up with a national forum hosted at Belize City’s Biltmore Plaza. Funded by the Central American Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) and led by Zain Dueheney, a Criminal Justice lecturer and program coordinator at Galen University, the 14-week training program sought to reposition young Belizeans as active stakeholders in the country’s democratic future.
The broader initiative is structured around three core target groups: youth, educators, and municipal government staff, with the forum marking the official closing of the program’s youth-focused track. Over the 14 weeks, participants completed two in-depth in-person workshops designed to demystify how government systems function, build awareness around core democratic principles, and empower young people to claim their space as engaged, informed citizens. The program centers a participatory governance framework, emphasizing that every member of society has a critical role to play in upholding accountability and strengthening democratic institutions.
At the concluding forum, participants shared personal reflections on their growth and took part in structured presentations on two foundational pillars of democratic participation: the importance of voter turnout and the Freedom of Information Act, a critical tool for transparency and government accountability. For many participants like Fernando Vega, a Galen University student and peer mentor in the program, the experience delivered tangible personal and professional development.
Speaking at the forum, Vega highlighted how the training expanded his core leadership capacities: “Personally it did expand my skills. As I mentioned, I am a peer mentor. It expanded my knowledge within my leadership skills, being able to communicate with my peers, giving them that initiative to be that person they look up to and be like, ok Fernando is a leader within the group and portraying itself within that aspect.”
Organizers noted that the program fills a critical gap in Belize’s democratic ecosystem, creating structured pathways for young people who are often sidelined in policy and governance conversations to build the skills and confidence needed to contribute to national development. By centering youth voice early, the initiative aims to build a more inclusive, informed, and accountable governance culture for Belize’s future.