Thursday, March 28, 2024

Engaging the youth to fight corruption

Share

Press Release
Anti-corruption day – December 9, 2013

Engage the youth of Belize about what ethical behavior is, what corruption is and how to fight it.

corr13_logo_ENThe University of Belize in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Belize recently concluded a national training of youth in Social Audit approach. The training provided a cross section of young people including males and females from rural and urban areas as well as indigenous and community leaders with the tools to conduct a social audit.

Emanating from the training workshop were two critical foundations for strengthening youth active engagement in calling out and checking in on corrupt practices:
1. The unequivocal declaration by the youth from all over Belize that anti-corruption is a critical platform from which they want their voices to be heard. This is a matter of national interest and they want to be actively involved;
2. A decision to formalize their newly formed platform in an official manner and to register and incorporate the Belize Youth Social Audit Network (BYSAN)

This is a first exposure to Social Audit in Belize especially as youth activism is under-developed and lacks strategic thrust. Through participation, youth were also made aware that Belize is the only country in Central America that has not signed the UN Convention on Anti-Corruption (UNCAC).

The training was supported and facilitated by the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (RBLAC) Governance Team and a renowned youth trainer consultant from the University of West Indies.

Commitment was expressed by the University to support the political engagement of young people as an avenue to exercise what they learn in the classroom in the real world. In the regard, the target audience is the population of over 5,000 youth who are currently enrolled in tertiary institutions. These youth had representation at the Social Audit training and through their respective representatives. School-based teams were established to organize and lead the activities for the commemoration of anti-corruption day, that was held on December, 9, 2013.

Read more

 

Please help support Local Journalism in Belize

For the first time in the history of the island's community newspaper, The San Pedro Sun is appealing to their thousands of readers to help support the paper during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 1991 we have tirelessly provided vital local and national news. Now, more than ever, our community depends on us for trustworthy reporting, but our hard work comes with a cost. We need your support to keep delivering the news you rely on each and every day. Every reader contribution, however big or small, is so valuable. Please support us by making a contribution.

Local News