The Belize Community Fair was held today at the ITVET and over 15 primary schools and high schools participated. But this wasn't just a recreational fair, the students presented real world solutions to tackle the thorny issue of youth unemployment. Today we spoke to some of the students and they told us what some of those solutions are

Courtney Weatherburne Reporting…

Youth and Innovation: that was the overarching theme of today's community fair.

And to show just how innovative they are, these high schools students presented their solutions to an issue that directly affects them: unemployment.

The ideas ranged from constructing a new cafeteria at their schools to providing training services for job seekers.

This is all in the hope of securing a successful future for themselves and the next generation.

Vashdy Tuelcy - Belize Rural High School

"We decided to have a cafeteria at our school because we only have 4 vendors at our school and we decided they are selling only unhealthy food, like greasy food. So we decided to start a cafeteria and start selling healthy food and we will be preparing these food in a way that students will want to come and buy it."

Karrian Holland - Belize High School

"Our presentation was a job firm called Belize help service and our main theme is our systematic approach in which we will deal with job seekers that comes to our service and we will help develop their profile and help them match to the perfect fitting job for them. Many unemployed people are under the age of 35, so we thought - maybe it's just because they don't have the right service in which to help them launch themselves into a job. Maybe they don't have the right preparation in interviews. Some people go into an interview and they don't know exactly what to expect, so our service is mainly to help develop their interview preparation and help them get that perfect job."

Amber Dyer - Canaan High School

"My group decided that we would create a training school but not just another training school, we wanted to create a place where students can be comfortable. Those dropouts, those who have graduated but can't find a job. They can come in and also they will learn the proper traits - but also they will be that internist motivation for them, there will be personal motivation."

Others were motivated to come up with a business idea of their own

Tory Middleton - Belize Rural High School – Rainbow Expressions

"Our idea was to open up a business making bows. Everybody likes bows. We just thought it would be a great idea if we start making it and maybe some other schools would start it. Kids will start it soon and then you'll see everybody making bows soon.

Courtney Weatherburne

"Tell us a little bit more about the scope of your research. In terms of a business you have to look at the finances, you have to look at cost and you have to look at your target market. Tell us about your research."

Tory Middleton

"To be honest with you the research was kind of tiring. Also we had to look at the marketing, who we wanted to target. It was basically just the kids, we want to target the girls who really don't wear bows as much, and the guys who want to buy bows for their specific others. We just took all of that into perspective."

Tamauia Garbutt - Pallotti High School

"We will collecting biodegradable materials from different places around our community. The waste will be used and converted into compost. We will have the different students from our high school helping us out until we can make our own company and generate it bigger. Then we'll have different young youths who are unemployed, they will be coming to help us with our company."

And in order for their ideas to reach that corporate level, mentoring and guidance is key.

Lia Flur - Director, Corporate Engagement for Peace Work

"We have also identified a Belize business mentor among the community and we've asked that they come to these 3 days as well - to provide just a local business perspective. But we've also ask that they continue to follow up. So once a month for the next 6 months, we'd like for them to meet with the team, talk through ideas. All the stuff they they've gone through for the past couple of days just to make sure - we don't want it to fall off either. We want these kids to be super excited, we don't want them to present and then that is it."

The primary school students also want to follow in these footsteps

Courtney Weatherburne

"So why do you think it is important at age 12 to start to look at your future? To start your own business to be successful."

Calisa Gentle - Ranchito Government School

"Well it's because when you get older and you go to college, maybe if you want to be an accountant or a business worker, you will already know how to work it out, about selling nd distribute things"

Shaheda Mcclaren

"We did a homemade facial scrubs. Why we did it? Because the sun it throws out harmful UV rays on us and these facial scrubs that we made, it helps to protect us from the harmful rays of the sun."

Patrick Faber - Minister of Education

"Financial literacy, these moves that you see afoot to educate our young people in the ways of money and so on, how to be economical, how to get out there and do your own thing. And that is very much needed. So when the media asks me, what is it you're going to do with the ideas that come out of the high school challenge today. It's easy for me to answer because it is something that we long desired."

For the high school innovation challenge, the group from Ocean Academy on Caye caulker came in first and got $1,000 dollars each. 2nd place was Belize Rural High School and 3rd place was Ladyville Technical High School.

The main focus of the fair was to promote financial literacy and work force preparedness in youths.