On this newscast, we often report in passing on the youth hostel - to say that troubled children have been sent there. Now, they'll have a new dormitory and resource center which were officially opened at this morning. These new facilities are supposed to create an environment for at-risk youth to develop into positive and productive citizens. That's the objective, but based on anecdotal evidence -many of these children end up back in the hostel after they are released, back in the same toxic settings they were taken from or... in prison. Director of the Community Rehabilitation Department says she is aware of this reality but that it only inspires her and her team to work harder with these kids. I found out more when I visited today:..
Anneke Jessen, IDB Country Representative
"I think it's very important to underline that what we are trying to accomplish here is important, not only for the young people who reside here, but also for the impact we can have on the communities where they come from and other communities into which they go when they leave these facilities."
Courtney Weatherburne reporting
That is the transformation that the coordinators hope to achieve with these kids at the youth hostel.
And the programs they will offer at these new facilities are designed to do just that.
Starla Bradley- Acosta, Director, Community Rehabilitation Department
"We have the basic remedial in Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies and we also have a computer aided literacy program and I can tell you that most of the children, we have seen tremendous improvements. Some children weren't able to write at all and now they are writing us letters. And when they are able to make those achievements, it boosts their self-esteem as well."
While these improvements are being made, their social backgrounds create a higher risk for recidivism.
Starla Bradley- Acosta, Director, Community Rehabilitation Department
"The reality is that we have these children in our care and they come to us fo4r varying reasons and when you look at their backgrounds, majority of them come from extremely difficult circumstances and are victims of various forms of abuse and neglect and so they end up on what we call this end of the Child Protection System and by virtue of the fact that they are under 18. They are still children, they still need special protection and the focus is always rehabilitation and trying our best to give them another chance. The population is large and we have a mix population. We have males and females. We have status offenders, who come to the facility for what we call uncontrollable behavior and then you have those who come for criminal matters and then you consider that its one facility - these persons are mixed together - criminal offenders and status offenders. Status offenders are the ones who are deemed to be, they would run away, or the parents can't manage them. So, quite often what you have when you mix populations like that, given age as well, younger children with older children - it's really a breeding ground and unfortunately, we saw a lot of recidivism."
So what is being done to make sure they don't end up right back here?
Starla Bradley- Acosta, Director, Community Rehabilitation Department
"We have community rehabilitation officers stationed in all the districts and so, they work together along with the counseling team and before that child leaves any of the facilities, they already have an appointment to see their counselor or their social worker and there is a continuous flow, because the same counseling team that they work with within their institutions, when they are released, they can still see that same counselor in Belize City at the counseling center. So, there is no break. There is continuity of services. We try to move them into a family setting. If their parents aren't available, do they have relatives or just family friends who might be able to take them under their wing and where that's not possible, then we need to look at independent living - transitional facilities for them."
But for now, this modern styled living room, new lockers rooms and bunk beds will be their living facilities.
Although these refurbished quarters and study rooms won't guarantee a complete change for these youths, hope must be kept alive.
Starla Bradley- Acosta, Director, Community Rehabilitation Department
"We remain hopeful. It's always challenging, but we always remain hopeful."
There are currently 20 females and 33 males at the Youth Hostel.
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