More than four hundred primary school students graduated today from the first Gang Resistance Education and Training program - called GREAT - which was introduced by the Police department along with the Ministry of Education and funded in part by the United States Embassy.
The program is aimed at steering young students away from gang involvement and a life of crime. Three city schools participated in the pilot program, and today at Wesley Church on Albert Street, certificates of completion were handed out to 375 students from the Middle school curriculum, and 78 from the Elementary school curriculum. One of the keynote speakers, Jennifer Barr of the US Embassy, told the students that even in the current climate of fear, they have a choice.
Jennifer Barr - Political Officer, US Embassy
"Because of this training and this program, you, the students are going to be able to make better choices. Because let's face it, we all know there's going to be a day, if the day hasn't already come, there's going to be a day when someone's going to ask you to join a gang, or to do something that you know is against the GREAT principles. So, we're asking you to stay strong, and stay GREAT. By facing this challenge, in a classroom environment and in this program, we're hoping that you now know how to respond, that you know how to say no. And that gives you that power, so that when someone asks you, you know what to say. You don't have to think about it. It give you that skill. This is a critical time in all of your lives, and it's a really exciting time where you have your whole future ahead of you, and you have that ability to make a difference. The future is yours."
Crispin Jeffries - Commissioner of Police
"We believe that gangs are nothing new to Belize. I know some of you standard 6 students who are waiting to graduate, sometime later this month, are looking forward to high school. But some of you may not have succeeded in getting into a high school, and you may be one of those persons that may be attracted to a gang. We are hoping that the information passed to you, through this program, will give you some of that training you need to resist the temptation. We don't - we already know, and we do know that some of you have already been involved in gang activities, because you all go through that phase of testing. And we are hoping, that what you've tested you don't like, and you will not continue it."
Dale Anthony - Ministry of Education
"We are realizing the effect of the first phase of the project, as over 400 students have not completed the program. We trust that the knowledge, attitudes, and values this program has instilled in them, will make a difference to the choices that they will make as they become adults. We at the Ministry of Education look forward to the implementation of this program in other schools, and will therefore, shortly plan this phase."
The program is expected to be extended to schools in both the Cayo and Orange Walk districts.
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