Operation Skate Belize
1,277 views · Published 29 January 2015 · 9:16 · Indexed 20 September 2026
Channel: Nick Pierre · 2015 · Travel & Events
I was lucky enough to be a part of an amazing opportunity to build the 1st skatepark in Belize, run great skateboarding workshops, host the 1st skate contest ever in Belize and street skate with with the raddest youth and my friends Ariel & Jody. ----- Video by: Nick Pierre ----- ----- Notes on our experience by: Ariel Stagni ----- In late 2014 the government of Belize recognized skateboarding as an activity of interest to the Youth of Belize City. Thanks in great part to the work of Toronto Skateboard Committee (TSC) member Jody Gyivicsan acting as Adviser of Youth Participation and Governance, the Department of Youth Services elected to support the growth of skateboarding and embrace it as a vehicle for positive Youth participation and engagement. She designed a program and called for the support of members of the Toronto skateboarding community. In mid-December TSC members Nick Pierre and Ariel Stagni delivered skateboard related workshops to local youth as well as donations of skateboarding equipment collected from various Toronto sources. What did the program include? - 2 days designated to youth building skate features for a portable skatepark with help from experts - 4 days designated to skateboarding sessions with help from experts - 1st skateboard contest and demo in Belize - ~40 local kids participated in skateboard programming most of those days Bonuses: - We also managed to distribute over 100 pounds of donated skateboarding equipment (boards, shoes, wheels, etc.) - Each day following programming we met up with youth at the town square to hang and skate into the evening Conclusion: -There presently is a strong draw for youth in Belize to get involved in violence. -This youth engagement project presented youth in Belize City an opportunity to be involved with something positive, and we believe it’s a big deal that they feel supported. It’s important that we ensure this initiative is sustained by offering more support to this and other projects involving skaters in Belize. What’s next: - The Department of Youth Services is dedicated to ensuring the sustainability of this program by developing a Youth Skateboarding Council to help maintain the portable park and act as a voice for skateboarding in Belize. We intend to continue to help. Quotes from youth: “People say I’m a quitter. But I’m going to keep trying, try again, try again. And then try again.” Workshop participant (Adon), 6 years old. “Fock guns, lets skate” Workshop participant (Marz), 19 years old. Context (Outlook for youth in Belize): 1. In Belize, as is true in many Central American countries, the last 10 years have brought increased rates of violent crimes. 2. Notably, 30% of homicide in Belize occur among youths between the ages of 14-24. This is particularly troubling given that in Belize 60% of the population is under 19 years old. 3. For comparison, the same age demographic in Canada account for about 22% of our population. 4. In Belize these crimes are concentrated in urban areas, including the south side of Belize City
