In a transformative initiative aimed at equipping young people with marketable, unconventional skills, Belize’s Department of Youth Services (DYS) has concluded its three-day free stained glass workshop for youth in Belize City, awarding completion certificates to more than 15 local participants. By the end of the program, attendees had mastered the full process of creating stained glass art, from initial design and glass cutting to final assembly, with all projects drawing inspiration from Belize’s iconic national symbols.
This workshop is just one of over 40 free youth skill-development programs DYS has organized across the country this summer. Leading the instruction was Jokeeta Savariau, a former architectural and aviation engineer who previously worked in the United States and has dedicated 11 years to running themed youth camps across Belize. Each year, Savariau shifts the camp focus to explore new fields; past programs have covered topics ranging from robotics to traditional crafts, and she often weaves cross-disciplinary learning into hands-on activities.
Recalling a previous stained glass camp held in Punta Gorda, Savariau explained how the craft was tied to historical education: participants created patterns based on the Underground Railroad, allowing them to learn about the history of slavery and the movement toward emancipation while also applying practical geometry, mathematics, and core scientific principles to solder glass pieces safely and correctly.
DYS Youth Officer Kyle Miller noted that the choice to bring this specific workshop to Belize City was a deliberate, strategic decision. Unlike common trades taught in standard youth programs, stained glass art is rarely practiced or seen across Belize, meaning there is no saturated existing market for the craft. Miller emphasized that this gap is exactly what makes the opportunity valuable: instead of competing in crowded local industries, young artisans can carve out their own niche and “create your own market” for their work.
Trent Clarke, one of the workshop attendees, shared his positive experience of the program, saying that with Savariau’s thorough guidance, he feels confident now pursuing stained glass art independently as a potential small business. Looking ahead, Miller has issued an open call for more young Belizeans to sign up for DYS’s upcoming free skill camps, encouraging youth to take advantage of these accessible opportunities to build new talents and explore alternative career paths.