In a groundbreaking cross-border youth peace initiative backed by the Organization of American States (OAS), 17 young creatives from the shared Belize-Guatemala Adjacency Zone have collaborated to produce a public mural that channels grassroots aspirations for peace, regional cooperation, and environmental stewardship of the vital Mopan River. The finished artwork was officially unveiled on September 2, 2026, at the Ta’amay Training and Peace Promotion Centre in El Arenal, Guatemala, as a flagship project of the OAS-supported youth engagement program “La Zona / The Zone” and its accompanying innovation incubator, La Zona Lab.
Before putting brush to wall, the diverse group of young participants spent extensive time collaborating to map the most pressing social and environmental challenges facing their cross-border communities. The resulting design weaves together iconic cultural symbols and native natural motifs from both Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belize, and El Arenal, Guatemala, balancing a celebration of shared regional heritage with clear calls for cross-community peaceful coexistence and long-term protection of the Mopan River, a critical water source for communities on both sides of the border.
OAS Secretary General Albert Ramdin emphasized that the initiative fills a key gap in traditional regional peacebuilding efforts, noting that sustainable peace can never be achieved through top-tier diplomatic negotiations alone. “Community development is fundamental. If it is only about negotiations and dialogue, it is not enough,” Ramdin stated at the unveiling. He added that centering young people in peace processes is non-negotiable, as long-term stability depends on fostering a tangible sense of ownership over peacebuilding among the generation that will inherit the region’s future.
Belizean Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca echoed that perspective, framing the La Zona program as a critical public education effort that bridges divides between the two neighboring nations. “La Zona is a part of that work of educating people about the process that’s taking place, educating people about Belize, about Guatemala, about our communities,” Fonseca explained, highlighting how grassroots cultural projects like this mural help demystify cross-border relations and build mutual understanding at the community level.