Youth Empowerment Takes Centre Stage at Climate Change Youth Forum

The Climate Change Youth Forum, hosted at CEMJC by the Department of Youth Services (DYS) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Sustainable Development, brought together passionate youth and experts to address sustainability challenges.

The event featured powerful speeches, engaging panel discussions, innovative project presentations, and interactive booth sessions.

One of the forum’s standout achievements was the impressive performance by Muffles College’s Eco Warriors Environmental Club. The students swept the top three prizes in the project proposal competition:

1st Place: Solar Synergy Schools by Gianna Flowers, Adir Castillo, and Alexandra Blanco
2nd Place: Husk Flow by Leilani Tun, Jarel Cordova, and Ziraili Narvallez
3rd Place: Eco Bricks by Breahana Castillo, Marcel Riverol, and Marvin Flores

The event has the participation of UB ERI, the Belize Fund for Sustainable Development, Oceana Belize, UNDP, and the Minister of Youth, Sports, and Transport, Rodwell Ferguson, who delivered the keynote address. He stressed the urgency of tackling the climate crisis.

The forum also included contributions from the Child Advisory Body (CAB) of the Child-Friendly Initiative, whose active participation highlighted the importance of youth involvement in environmental advocacy.