Description:
This project aims to ensure that vulnerable youth in San Ignacio and Santa Elena can participate fully in Belize’s economy by removing the barriers that prevent them from accessing education, vocational training, and formal employment. With legal identity documents and practical job skills, these young people—especially those at risk of marginalization—will have greater opportunities for safe, stable, and sustainable livelihoods. To achieve this long-term change, the project carries out several concrete activities drawn from the logic model and activity list, including: 1) community outreach and registration, conducted with schools, civil society, and local organizations to identify undocumented youth and raise awareness about the importance of legal identity; 2) mobile documentation clinics, operated in partnership with government agencies, to help up to 150 youth obtain birth certificates, Social Security cards, and other required IDs; 3) vocational skills training, delivered with St. Ignatius High School, including technical trades (such as welding, hospitality, and entrepreneurship), paired with life skills and financial literacy modules; 4) paid apprenticeships and mentorships with local businesses (e.g., Westrac Ltd, Cahal Pech Resort, St. Martin’s Credit Union), providing real-world work experience supported by industry mentors; and 5) post-training job placement support, including interview preparation, job readiness coaching, and three months of follow-up to help graduates secure employment.
Expected Results:
The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased access to legal identity documentation among participating youth, enabling them to pursue education, vocational training, and formal employment opportunities; (2) improved vocational, life, and financial literacy skills among youth who complete the workforce-integrated training program, strengthening their employability and job readiness; (3) enhanced confidence, technical competence, and workplace exposure among apprentices through structured mentorship and paid on-the-job training placements; and (4) increased employment opportunities and reduced vulnerability to social exclusion among participating youth as a result of strengthened skills, industry connections, and post-program job placement support.