There are two winners selected for this year's September Celebrations theme, and at today's unveiling we met both the students and found out more about how they shared and submitted almost the same idea on what Belize at 44 should look like.

David Pena, Student, Corozal District
"So basically I was seeing how together as Belizeans we can be stronger as the theme says stronger together and we can rise together as Belize."

Reporter
"Is this the first time you entered the competition?"

David Pena, Student, Corozal District
"No I entered last year also and then I got inspired by my parents this year."

"When I reached fromcollege after school my parents told me I have something to tell you and I was worried like did I do something bad? And then they told me how I won and I said I can't believe it and I cried to them and then they showed me the picture that I was invited right here."

Holly Vasquez, Student, San Ignacio Town
"It was my first time entering the competition and I am a person into the national pride and I was sitting, pondering upon the theme and I said what a fitting theme for this year, Belize at 44 stronger together, rising forever. Belize has been through a lot of economic hardship we went through the pandemic and we managed to rise above it so it was just fitting that I put that theme together and it was selected by me and Mr David and it came as a shock to me as well that I was selected as one of the winners, so I am grateful for it and it is just fitting for this years theme."

Minister of Culture Francis Fonseca says that every year they take a vote on some of the best themes, but this year he was pleased with the number of school children, especially from rural areas:

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs & Culture
"We're very happy with the submissions. As I said, we, I think we got, I think close to 600 submissions from all over the country. I was really glad to see participation from a lot of rural communities, from villages I see some schools in rural communities really took it on as a project and worked on it. So that was very good, very good. We had participation from virtually every corner of the country. And the committee decided that, you know, these two individuals who had come up with this, this team, would be the ones who, were receiving the recognition this year."

"We've had every variation of themes over the years. So we try I think the committee tries not to, to repeat, you know, and you'll find the words stronger and together and you'll find them in almost every theme, rising so it's very difficult, becomes increasingly difficult to find something new and, and original if you, if you, if you know what I mean. So I'm never, you know, 100% satisfied. But we have a process. We follow that process. We respect that process. The integrity of that process and so we at the end, it's put to a vote in the commission, which, you know, has widespread representation and the committee goes with the majority vote on that, on that issue. So, you know, we accept that. And and we celebrate the theme."