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We found out more at the launch of REACH today.

Jules Vasquez reporting
As this promotional launching video shows the newly formed NGO called REACH is about the artistic expression of young men- in their first show called IMAGINE-NATION. Sure, the acronym may stand for Research, Education and Advocacy for Social Change – but really it's about diverse artistic expression including poetry.

And while that may seem like idle humour, in a society where, research shows, many young men are like ticking time bombs without an outlet for expression, the importance of words can't be over emphasized.

Steven Gabb - Poet
"That's the stigma about poetry, they believe that it's not a way that a man should be. But I love poetry and I do poetry because it is a way of expressing myself and it could be in any way - like a comedic way that we just did. It's showing what we think, what we feel and what we actually really want to be seen."

Keon Gabourel - Poet
"It's a tool to utilize because sometimes many males end up in the prison system because of one mistake. Poetry can be the tools used to express yourself on paper instead of taking it out on someone else."

Denzel Wade, Poet
"Instead of using guns I think we should start using words. This poetry that we are doing is very influential to me in a positive way because I come from St. Martin's and all the kids that I've seen grow up in that area don't make it as far as I am. So I want to show them that you can actually be someone even if you come from that part of town."

That's the same idea that these young photographers had.

Charles Holland - Artist
"Every single picture that we took just symbolized what Belize has to offer and even more. What we view as artists and what Belize looks like and also what young people see when they go places."

Aaron Edwards - Artist
"In other words we just went everywhere for the easter break. We went to Dangriga, Silk Grass, Bacab, 8 miles, Civic Center - just every little thing that we felt that was necessary to take pictures of, the little aspects of life that you miss - we took pictures of."

And using pictures, paintings, graphic art and cartoons, the exhibit is an interesting take on violence, we see it refracted through the lens of creative youths:

Xiao Yan - Artist
"The idea of this is that in Belize a single bullet can easily take the life of someone. It's not a choice that someone has, take for example - someone can be walking down the street and accidentally a bullet hits them. One bullet can merely measure the life of someone else. Why should we allow one bullet to control us? Why should we fear it? Why should we allow life to be measured inside one bullet? Why?"

It is a question that comes up repeatedly in this exhibit – and perhaps one that only the chaos of art can answer.

"Today the youths don't really have a voice. The youths just get told what to do, they get told what to wear, they have parents that try to bring them up in the traditional style but people see art like the most honest way to send out a message."

Steven Gabb
"When you write something and it's good, people will always remember that poem. They don't have to remember you by killing someone. You won't gain respect from the gun, you will gain respect by the elders and youth if you're a poet."

The show called Imagine-Nation will be opened to the public tomorrow night at the Image Factory.

If you want more information about REACH, you can check their website at www.reachbelize.net.