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分类： education

  • AI in schools ‘should be encouraged with safeguards’

    AI in schools ‘should be encouraged with safeguards’

    As artificial intelligence continues to reshape learning landscapes across the globe, a prominent Barbados non-profit leader is calling for a deliberate, balanced approach to integrating the technology into school classrooms. Speaking exclusively to Barbados TODAY on the sidelines of the hands-on youth development workshop *Next Wave: AI + Entrepreneurship Experience*, hosted Friday at the Sugar Cane Club Hotel & Spa, Hibiscus Sports and Culture Foundation founder Akealii Hall laid out a nuanced framework for AI use that prioritizes original human thought over automated output.

    Hosted to help young Barbadians unpack both the transformative potential and hidden risks of widespread AI adoption, the Friday initiative drew support from a coalition of local stakeholders including Youth Uprising, iTech Consulting, the Sugar Cane Club Hotel & Spa and the Legacy Foundation. Beyond introductory lessons on how AI works, the programme gave participants practical training in pairing human creativity with AI tools to launch new ventures: attendees learned to draft business plans, build viable business models, and pitch their ideas to stakeholders, all while leaning into human-led problem solving.

    Hall, who leads the foundation focused on youth skills development, argues that AI’s strengths make it a valuable auxiliary tool for education, not a replacement for independent student work. “There are a lot of benefits of it and it can definitely be used as a good tool within the classroom system, but it has to be used sparingly and knowledgeably,” he explained.

    One of the most productive use cases Hall identified is supporting students in refining work they have already completed independently. For example, AI can act as a powerful proofreading tool for finished essays, checking for punctuation and grammatical errors, and helping students polish their writing to more clearly communicate ideas that they already developed but may struggle to put into polished prose. Hall also noted that AI can streamline administrative work for student research projects, including School-Based Assessments (SBAs) required for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams. After students complete the core research legwork — conducting surveys, distributing questionnaires, and gathering raw data themselves — AI can organize that information into structured data sets and analysis frameworks to save students time on manual formatting.

    Across every use case, however, Hall emphasized one non-negotiable rule: human work must always come first. He warned against allowing students to rely on AI as their primary problem-solving tool, stressing that preserving opportunities for independent critical thinking has to remain the core goal of education. “You want to always start by leading with humans first,” he said.

    The ultimate objective of the *Next Wave* workshop, Hall added, is to give young people a grounded, practical understanding of the AI tools they interact with daily. By teaching them to balance AI’s efficiency with human creativity and critical thought, the programme aims to equip a new generation of learners and entrepreneurs to use technology responsibly, rather than being controlled by it.

  • SSB Celebrates Academic Excellence with Scholarship Awards

    SSB Celebrates Academic Excellence with Scholarship Awards

    On August 7, 2026, Belize’s Social Security Board (SSB) gathered students, parents, educators and institutional leaders for a milestone scholarship ceremony, celebrating a quarter-century of expanding educational access for young Belizeans and awarding 85 new scholarships to deserving incoming high school and upper secondary students. Far more than just a one-time financial grant, each of this year’s awards carries a tangible vote of confidence in the next generation of Belizean leaders, echoing the program’s 25-year legacy of lifting up young people pursuing their academic goals.

    Launched in 2001, the SSB Scholarship Program has grown from a small initiative to a foundational educational support system that has helped hundreds of Belizean students access secondary and post-secondary education they might otherwise have been unable to afford. Speaking at the 2026 ceremony, SSB Public Relations Manager Vanessa Vellos emphasized that the 25th anniversary of the program makes this year’s event far more than a routine awards distribution—it is a celebration of decades of life-changing investment in Belize’s youth.

    “For the past twenty-five years the social security board has been transforming lives through education. So today is a very special day. It is not just a regular scholarship award ceremony. We are celebrating twenty-five years of giving back,” Vellos told reporters. Out of 200 total applications received for the 2026 award cycle, SSB selected 85 recipients based on strict, targeted eligibility criteria: all awardees must be native-born Belizeans, demonstrate verifiable financial need, prove their ability to complete a full academic program, and maintain a minimum B+ average to qualify for support. Of this year’s awards, 64 will go to students pursuing associate-level higher education, while 21 are allocated to incoming high school students.

    SSB officials note that the program serves a dual purpose: it rewards existing academic excellence and hard work, while making a long-term strategic investment in the young people who will go on to shape Belize’s economic, social and political future. The initiative aligns directly with SSB’s core institutional mission, which frames the board as a beacon of hope for communities across the country, achieved through targeted, meaningful investments in people.

    This report is adapted from a transcript of an evening television news broadcast covering the event.

  • 2026 School Supplies and Uniform Assistance Programme

    2026 School Supplies and Uniform Assistance Programme

    Grenada’s Ministry of Education has kicked off the distribution of digital QR code vouchers to eligible parents and guardians participating in the country’s School Supplies and Uniform Assistance Programme, rolling out a modern, convenient support system for low-income households ahead of the new school year.

    Unlike traditional paper-based assistance, this new digital format offers a secure cashless transaction framework, allowing approved beneficiaries to access their allocated funds directly when purchasing required school items. The vouchers are being sent out in staggered batches to recipients via two primary channels: SMS text messages from the official contact line 1 (878) 231-3486, and email from [email protected]. To access the voucher after receiving the notification, recipients need an active internet connection to open the embedded link, and education officials recommend that users save a screenshot of the QR code to ensure quick, easy access when visiting participating vendors.

    Once beneficiaries have their QR code ready, they can redeem the voucher at any of the programme’s pre-approved authorized retailers spread across all of Grenada’s parishes and the island of Carriacou. A full list of authorized vendors has been published alongside the programme announcement, with locations sorted by parish for easy reference: In St Andrew, participating retailers include Anthony’s Fashion Store, Dee’s School and Stationery Supplies, Fletcher’s Creation, two Gora Enterprise locations on Ben Jones Street in Grenville, Louisa’s Booth #58, May Fair, Pick-N-Pay, Salim (Grenville), Save N’ Gain Department Store, Shopper’s Paradise, Spice Fashion, and Super Store. For residents of St George, authorized vendors are Ali’s Creation, Bargain House, Cost U Less, Gora Enterprise, Grenada Teachers School Supplies Ltd., Johnny’s Enterprise, L A Purcell, Majestic Department Store, two S Kumar Variety Store locations (St George’s and Grand Anse), Shoprite Store, Standard Book Store, Suchi Enterprise, and two Salim locations on Halifax Street and Melville Street. St John residents can redeem vouchers at Campbell’s Variety Store and J &A Enterprise, while St Patrick locations include Miah’s Collection, Sanchee Variety Store, and Zi Zi Mini Mart. On the island of Carriacou, participating vendors are Alexis Variety Store, All in One Variety Store, Bargain Land, Franko Tailoring, Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT), Jharm’s World, Joseph Plus 1, Nacodia Design, Noreen Sewing Studio, Reann’s School Essentials, Teacher Sharon’s One Stop Shop, and Teeny Things.

    The programme sets out clear guidelines for which items are covered by the assistance, spanning all core back-to-school needs. Covered clothing items include aprons, pants, school belts, shirts, shoes (capped at a maximum $100 reimbursement), skirts, socks, ties, full school uniforms, and vests. Paper products eligible for purchase include book covers, colouring books, copy paper, drawing books, envelopes, exercise books, notebooks, pocket folders, sketch pads, along with a full range of writing supplies such as chalk, colouring pencils, crayons, markers, pen sets, pencil sets, pencils, and pens. General stationery and office supplies covered include erasers, rulers, scissors, sharpeners, staplers, stapling pins, and white out, while students can also use vouchers for school bags and lunch kits. Specialized mathematical and technical tools including calculators, geometry sets, math sets, set squares, and T-squares are also approved, alongside basic sewing supplies for uniforms such as buttons, fasteners, ribbons, school uniform cloth, and zips.

    Ministry officials have encouraged approved beneficiaries to redeem their vouchers in a timely manner, noting that the vouchers will remain valid through September 25, 2026. For any questions, technical support, or programme-related enquiries, parents and vendors can reach the programme support team via call or WhatsApp at 1 (473) 415-1458, or by email at [email protected]. The ministry added that all enquiries must be directed through these designated channels, as the ministry is currently operating under a remote work arrangement.

    At its core, the School Supplies and Uniform Assistance Programme is designed to deliver targeted financial support to households facing economic hardship, with the core goal of ensuring all school-aged children have access to the essential resources they need to attend classes and fully engage in their education without barriers. In closing the announcement, the Ministry of Education expressed gratitude to participating parents and authorized vendors for their ongoing cooperation, and stated that the ministry expects a smooth, successful rollout of the new digital voucher system.

    This announcement was published via NOW Grenada, which notes that it is not responsible for contributor-provided statements or content, and provides a channel for users to report any abuse related to posted content.

  • Ministry and Board of Education Highlight Major School Expansion Projects as Part of Public Awareness Drive

    Ministry and Board of Education Highlight Major School Expansion Projects as Part of Public Awareness Drive

    ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – On August 7, 2026, senior officials from Antigua’s Ministry of Education, Science & Technology and the national Board of Education completed a joint inspection of ongoing construction work at two major secondary school sites, reaffirming the government’s long-term pledge to modernize the country’s education infrastructure to meet growing student needs.

    The two expansion projects, which broke ground last year, are core components of the Board of Education’s annual summer infrastructure improvement program, a broader initiative that covers upgrades and maintenance at more than 40 public schools across the nation. The inspection tour gave leaders a first-hand look at construction progress and allowed them to highlight the cross-agency collaboration driving the effort to address long-standing gaps in school facilities.

    At Antigua Grammar School, the project centers on expanding and consolidating the institution’s Home Economics Department. Currently, the department’s Food & Nutrition program is housed on the school’s lower floor, while Home Management and Clothing & Textiles operate from the upper level. Once complete, the consolidated facility will bring all three program areas under a single roof, creating a cohesive, functional space designed specifically for hands-on practical training that helps students build critical technical and life skills.

    Following the inspection at Antigua Grammar, the delegation traveled to Clare Hall Secondary School, where a far-reaching capacity expansion project is underway to resolve persistent overcrowding issues. The development will add seven new classrooms to the campus – three on the lower level and four on the upper – increasing the school’s total enrollment capacity by roughly 200 students to accommodate growing demand for secondary school places in the region.

    Both expansion projects are fully funded through the national Education Levy, a dedicated revenue stream managed by the Board of Education, with the Ministry of Education providing strategic oversight to ensure all infrastructure investments align with the broader goals and priorities of Antigua’s national education system. Officials confirmed that construction is on schedule, and both upgrades will be fully completed ahead of the 2026–2027 academic year, ready to welcome students when the new term begins.

    Education Minister Daryll Matthew emphasized that the ongoing work reflects the current government’s core policy priority: investing in education facilities that are equipped to serve both the current and future needs of Antigua’s student population. “Our government’s policy is clear: improving the quality of education cannot be separated from improving the physical environments where our students learn and our teachers work,” Matthew explained during the tour. “As the demands placed on our education system continue to evolve, our school infrastructure must evolve alongside them. The upgrades at Antigua Grammar and Clare Hall Secondary are just part of our broader commitment to expanding enrollment capacity, modernizing our school stock, and creating spaces that actively support high-quality teaching and learning.”

    Carla Farquhar, Executive Secretary of the Board of Education, noted that the visible construction progress at the two schools demonstrates the value of careful, responsible management of the Education Levy, which lies at the center of the Board’s core work. “The Education Levy is a direct investment by the people of Antigua and Barbuda in the future of our nation’s education,” Farquhar said. “The Board carries a fundamental responsibility to manage these public resources prudently, and direct every dollar toward projects that will deliver meaningful, long-lasting impact for students and communities. When levy contributors see schools being expanded, new resources being added, and facilities being upgraded, they are seeing their contributions hard at work.”

    Farquhar also took the opportunity to remind all levy contributors of the importance of meeting their Education Levy obligations on time. “Every single contribution makes a difference. The scale and scope of the work we can support across the entire education system is directly tied to the amount of resources available to the Board. Timely, consistent contributions allow us to plan long-term, respond quickly to pressing priority needs, and make sustained, transformative investments in our schools. Good stewardship requires accountability from our side, but it also depends on the continued support and compliance of every contributor.”

    This joint inspection tour is part of a broader public outreach initiative by the Ministry and Board of Education, designed to increase transparency and public awareness of the ongoing investments being made to strengthen Antigua’s education sector.

  • Peace Corps Eastern Caribbean swears-in new cohort of volunteers

    Peace Corps Eastern Caribbean swears-in new cohort of volunteers

    In a landmark hybrid regional ceremony connecting four Eastern Caribbean nations this week, 25 new Peace Corps volunteers were officially sworn in, launching a two-year service mission focused on expanding early-grade English literacy across local primary school communities. The inclusive event brought together in-person and virtual stakeholders from four host nations: St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Grenada, and Dominica. Attendees included senior government officials, representatives from national education ministries, local community leaders, volunteer host families, partnering school administrations, and Peace Corps organizational staff, all gathered to extend a collective welcome to the incoming cohort.

    In her opening remarks, Peace Corps Eastern Caribbean Country Director Kimberly Will underscored the historic weight of the occasion, highlighting both the personal commitment of the new volunteers and the deep, longstanding ties between the region and the global service organization. She noted that St. Lucia boasts one of the organization’s oldest continuous partnerships, dating all the way back to 1961 when the first Peace Corps volunteers arrived on the island — a partnership that will mark its 65th anniversary in 2026. Will emphasized that the most meaningful and lasting change from Peace Corps service does not come from programs alone, but from “sustained relationships, shared goals, and collaboration rooted in optimism and commitment with their host country counterparts.”

    Karin Sullivan, Chargé d’Affaires for the U.S. Mission to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, also addressed the new volunteers, urging them to uphold the core Peace Corps values of cross-cultural friendship, institutional accountability, and mutual respect. She reminded the group that their individual service forms part of a broader American tradition of civic engagement, one rooted in the belief that individual commitment and contribution can strengthen both the United States and global communities at large.

    Before their swearing-in, the 25 volunteers completed an intensive 9-week immersive preparation program designed to equip them for life and service in the region. Training covered critical skills including local language acquisition, cultural orientation tailored to Eastern Caribbean norms, evidence-based literacy instruction methods, and hands-on classroom practice to build teaching confidence. Now fully prepared, the volunteers will deploy to primary school placements across the four islands, where they will focus on boosting English literacy outcomes for students in Grades 1 through 5, a critical period for building foundational reading skills.

    Deployment numbers are distributed across the host islands to match local education needs: five volunteers will serve in Dominica, six in Grenada, nine in St. Lucia, and five in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Each cohort will work aligned with the long-term national literacy goals set by their host country’s education leadership.

    The induction of the new cohort comes as Peace Corps Eastern Caribbean prepares to mark a major regional milestone in 2026: 65 years of continuous service and partnership across the region, and with the Government of St. Lucia specifically. Since the first Peace Corps volunteers arrived in the Eastern Caribbean in 1961, more than 4,339 volunteers have served across the subregion. Currently, 38 active volunteers are working alongside local teachers, school principals, and community members to expand literacy access and deepen people-to-people cultural exchange across the four host islands.

  • 85 Bright Minds Handed a Ticket to Higher Education

    85 Bright Minds Handed a Ticket to Higher Education

    On August 7, 2026, the Social Security Board (SSB) of Belize marked a significant milestone in its commitment to accessible education, awarding 85 need-based scholarships to outstanding local students during a special ceremony celebrating the 25th anniversary of its flagship scholarship program. Holding to this year’s theme, “Empowering Future Generations through Education,” the event honored the selected students who have cleared a rigorous selection process to receive financial support for their academic journeys.

    Vanessa Vellos, Communications and Public Relations Manager at SSB, emphasized that the 2026 ceremony carries far more meaning than a routine annual awards event. “This isn’t just a regular gathering to hand out scholarships,” Vellos explained. “We are celebrating a quarter-century of intentional investment in Belize’s people, and 25 years of giving back to the communities that trust our institution.”

    This year, the program received 200 total applications from across Belize. After a thorough review aligned with the program’s eligibility criteria, 64 students pursuing associate degrees were selected for higher education scholarships, while an additional 21 students received awards to cover high school studies. Unlike many generic scholarship funds, Vellos noted, SSB’s program is structured to lift up students facing systemic and personal financial barriers: a large share of this year’s successful applicants come from single-parent households or other circumstances of economic hardship.

    To qualify for an SSB scholarship, applicants must be native-born Belizean citizens, document verified financial need, maintain a minimum B+ grade average throughout their academic careers, and demonstrate a clear capacity to complete their chosen degree or study program. The financial awards are structured to cover core educational costs: high school recipients receive a one-time grant of $1,200, while associate degree students get $1,000 per semester of their program.

    Vellos stressed that every scholarship awarded by SSB is more than just individual financial assistance—it is a long-term investment in Belize’s national development. By supporting students to complete their education, the board is actively building a stronger, more skilled future workforce that will drive progress across every sector of the Belizean economy. Two and a half decades into the program, that investment is already showing clear returns: past scholarship recipients have gone on to become teachers, media professionals, private sector consultants, and other productive, engaged leaders across Belizean society.

    For students and community members interested in learning more about future application cycles or program requirements, full details are posted on the SSB’s official website at socialsecurityboard.org.bz.

  • Dominica national 4-H Club embarks on historic first educational tour to Paris

    Dominica national 4-H Club embarks on historic first educational tour to Paris

    A landmark moment for youth education in Dominica has arrived this summer, as the country’s national 4-H Club organization has launched its first-ever international educational tour, bringing a 31-member cross-community delegation of students, educators, school leaders and parent chaperones to Paris, France.

    Bert Paul, president of the Dominica National 4-H Club, confirmed the details of the milestone trip in an official statement, noting that the traveling group draws participants from 10 different educational institutions across the island nation. These schools span all education levels, ranging from primary campuses including Christian Union Primary School, Roosevelt Douglas Primary School and Bense Primary School to secondary institutions such as Convent High School, Dominica Grammar School, Isaiah Thomas Secondary School, Saint Martin Secondary School, Goodwill Secondary School, Pierre Charles Secondary School, and the tertiary-level Dominica State College.

    As a long-running non-formal education initiative supported by Dominica’s Youth Development Division, the 4-H Club operates on a core “learning by doing” philosophy that bridges gaps between traditional classroom instruction and real-world skill building. Unlike standard academic programs, the organization centers its activities on student-led projects that empower young people to cultivate practical life competencies. Participants are guided to set personal and project-focused goals, build self-confidence, take ownership of their work through new responsibilities, and practice independent, thoughtful decision-making—all tools designed to help young people unlock their full potential and build foundational success for their futures.

    This first international tour to Paris marks a major expansion of the organization’s educational offerings, giving local Dominican youth the chance to gain global cultural exposure and hands-on learning experiences beyond their home island. Photographs from the trip document the delegation visiting iconic Parisian landmarks including the Arc de Triomphe, blending cultural exploration with the 4-H Club’s signature experiential learning model.

  • Antiguans Ajenai Charles and Kha-Lique Harris Selected for Prestigious Caribbean STEM Programme

    Antiguans Ajenai Charles and Kha-Lique Harris Selected for Prestigious Caribbean STEM Programme

    Two promising young scholars from Antigua and Barbuda, Ajenai Charles and Kha-Lique Harris, have earned the opportunity to represent their home country at the 2026 Student Program for Innovation in Science and Engineering (SPISE), one of the Caribbean’s most competitive residential STEM development initiatives. Organized by the Caribbean Science Foundation, the five-week immersive program is designed to unite high-achieving young STEM talents from across the Caribbean region, nurturing their existing skills and passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Gaining entry to SPISE is no small feat: Charles and Harris outperformed many peer applicants through a rigorous multi-stage selection process that evaluated candidates on academic transcripts, secondary education CSEC examination results, teacher recommendations, personal application essays and in-person interviews. Over the course of the program, participants will engage with rigorous university-level coursework spanning a diverse range of critical STEM and related fields, including physics, advanced calculus, biochemistry, robotics, computer programming and entrepreneurial studies. Beyond classroom learning, the program prioritizes building soft skills that are key to long-term career success, with structured activities designed to strengthen leadership capabilities, collaborative teamwork and professional communication. A unique highlight of the initiative is the opportunity for students to connect directly with admissions representatives and seasoned STEM professionals from some of the world’s top higher education institutions, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, Canada’s University of Waterloo and McMaster University. For Antigua and Barbuda, the selection of Charles and Harris cements the country’s place among the group of regional nations participating in the program, while also shining a spotlight on the exceptional untapped potential of the country’s emerging generation of young STEM leaders.

  • Young Artists Showcase Stained-Glass Skills

    Young Artists Showcase Stained-Glass Skills

    On August 6, 2026, a cohort of emerging young artists from Belize City celebrated a key milestone in their creative journeys, receiving official completion certificates for the Belize Department of Youth Services’ intensive stained-glass workshop. The program is just one of more than 40 free summer skill-building initiatives rolled out by the department this year, designed to connect young people from all socioeconomic backgrounds with hands-on learning opportunities that extend far beyond traditional classroom walls.

    Over three days, more than 15 local participants worked alongside experienced instructors to master the full process of stained-glass creation, from initial conceptual design to glass cutting, assembly, and finishing. Blending traditional craftsmanship with modern technical approaches, many students chose to center their final projects on Belize’s iconic national symbols, infusing centuries-old cathedral stained-glass techniques with local cultural identity. As observers watched, young creators worked with steady focus and dedication, turning raw shards of colored glass into vivid, expressive works of art.

    Leading the workshop was Jokeeta Savariau, a former architectural and aviation engineer with 11 years of experience designing hands-on STEM and creative learning programs for Belizean youth. This is not Savariau’s first stained-glass initiative: two years prior, she led a successful camp in Punta Gorda that wove historical education into craft training, where participants created patterns inspired by the Underground Railroad. That program integrated lessons on transatlantic slavery and the movement toward freedom with practical learning in geometry, mathematics, and the scientific principles of glass soldering. Each year, Savariau adapts her programming to explore new fields, ranging from robotics in Punta Gorda to other creative and technical disciplines, giving young people the space to explore new interests through tangible, hands-on practice.

    Kyle Miller, a youth officer with the Department of Youth Services, explained that the department chose to host this iteration of the camp in Belize City to expand access to the uncommon training to young people in the urban center. Unlike more common youth program offerings, stained-glass craftsmanship is an underdeveloped skill in Belize, meaning participants have the unique opportunity to carve out their own niche markets and entrepreneurial paths. This workshop reflects a broader strategic shift in the department’s youth programming toward supporting the development of rare, specialized competencies. By offering accessible training in these skills domestically, officials aim to nurture young people’s creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, while strengthening the overall capacity and diversity of Belize’s future workforce.

    Trent Clarke, one of the workshop attendees, praised the program’s engaging, accessible structure. With one-on-one guidance from Savariau, Clarke noted that many participants leave the program confident enough to pursue stained-glass creation independently after the camp ends.
    Miller emphasized that all Department of Youth Services summer camps, including the stained-glass workshop, are completely free of charge for participants, with all materials and instruction covered by the department. The programs are structured not only to build technical skills but also to foster leadership development, and department officials hope to expand the initiative in coming years to reach more young people across the country.

    Beyond being a seasonal recreational activity, the workshop provides a safe, supportive space for young people to learn, create, and identify their unique strengths. As global and local job markets continue to evolve, specialized hands-on skills like stained-glass craftsmanship give Belizean youth a tangible competitive edge. Investment in accessible, skills-focused youth programming today, organizers say, is an investment in a more dynamic, innovative, and prosperous Belize for future generations.

  • “Create Your Own Market”: DYS Teaches Youth Stained Glass, Free

    “Create Your Own Market”: DYS Teaches Youth Stained Glass, Free

    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.