AT-RISK KIDS GET TRAINING. Schools take kids off the street. But they seldom train kids how to cope when they go back to those same dangerous streets. There they face peer pressure to join gangs in their vicious cycles of violence.
So now Belize has a “Freedom Healing Course” on social skills for navigating such risky situations. It teaches inner skills of prayer and changing mindsets of depression and anxiety. And outer skills of talking through problems, learning forgiveness and developing good habits & manners. Recently 65 kids graduated from that course at Tubal Trade and Vocational Institute.
Murder went down 60-70%
But kids need vocational skills too for finding employment that breaks dependence on gangs & crime. Recently, Tubal graduated 81 youths in that program, partnering with LIU (Leadership Intervention Unit). Not only did it train young men in automotive, a/c and electrical skills. It also trained young women in skills such as cosmetology.
Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa says efforts like have decreased crime in the past few months. Deputy Commissioner of Police Richard Rosado agrees. He says “this year alone, we are seeing sixty to seventy percent decrease in murders.” That was before last week’s spike in murders.
So we need follow-up in placing such graduates out of harm’s way. Musa is planning apprenticeships and also granting each graduate $1,100 of equipment. LIU is enrolling 75 more boys ages 14-17 for one year of behavior & skills training and one year of apprenticeship. Pray that these small beginnings mean endings to many of the vicious cycles that had trapped them.
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Related sources for at-risk kids get training:
65 Youths Complete Journey to Freedom Healing Course at Tubal Vocational Institute
L.I.U. Partners with Tubal to Provide Skills Training to Socially-Excluded Population
