gojoven.org ENGLISH » Belize 2005

Kenneth Rafael Esquivel

GOJoven — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:18:41 +0000

Kenneth Rafael Esquivel is 24 years old, the middle child in a family of seven brothers. He holds an Associates Degree in Chemistry and Biology from the Corozal Junior College in Corozal Town, Belize, and has worked at the Belize Fisheries Department as an Assistant Fisheries Officer for the past two years. Kenneth’s job entails carrying out surveys and monitoring marine species such as lobster, conch, fish and shrimp. He also interviews “fisher folks” to ensure that they are using good fishing practices, so that the fish stocks stay at healthy margins. In doing so, he helps the Department consider alternative livelihoods, apart from fishing.
Kenneth is also a part of the Public Service Union of Belize (PSU), and an active member of the PSU Youth Arm. The Public Service Union is composed of government employees, and its Youth Arm includes members of the PSU under the age of thirty. The Youth Arm undertakes community service activities, including cleaning highways and painting parks, as well as contributing items to schools. They also do educational outreach programs, including giving talks at schools about HIV/AIDS and other STIs to older students. Kenneth also volunteers with Young People of Belize, in collaboration with the Belize Ministry of Health, where he deals with problems facing men who have sex with men in the country.

Agricultural and Fisheries Department

Guadalupe Lovelia Magaña

GOJoven — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:18:07 +0000

Guadalupe Lovelia Magaña Lupe, who is 28 years old, was born in Corozal, Belize. After graduating high school, she continued to empower herself by attending St. Johns College, where she obtained an associates degree in General Studies.

Lupe has always participated actively in community projects, not only in her own community but also throughout her district. She has a special ability to work with people, especially adolescents. Lupe began working with young people in 1995 as a volunteer, and has worked in the environmental field as community worker and as a teacher. She was president of the Progresso Youth Club and implemented a watershed project for three years. Lupe has also contributed to the development of her country as a volunteer for the charitable organization Raleigh International. In this organization, she visited other districts of Belize, where she learned about a variety of people from her country.

Presently, Lupe continues to work for the development of youth through the Belize Community Rehabilitation Department as the Community Rehabilitation Officer for Orange Walk District. In this position, she plays an important advocacy role for youth who come into contact with the justice system. Presently, she is also studying for her diploma in Youth in Development Work at the University of the West Indies. Lupebelieves strongly that given the opportunity, young people can change if the proper environment is being molded for them.

Community Rehabilitation Department

Felix Mai

GOJoven — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:17:25 +0000

Felix Mai was a 30-year-old high school English teacher in Orange Walk when he became a Summit Fellow. Felix has been a volunteer with the Alliance Against AIDS and Belize Red Cross. Felix is engaged in radio and has a personal interest in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS. Felix is a visionary thinker, and a young man developing solutions to some of his country’s greatest challenges. Felix’s involvement will not only impact the young people with whom he works, but also generate larger scale impacts through his continued part-time work in the media. Currently Felix works as Assistant Fisheries Officer at the Agriculture and Fisheries Department in Belize City.

Muffles High School

Amilcar Milian

GOJoven — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:16:59 +0000

Amilcar Milian was 28 years old when he became a Summit Fellow and is constable with the Family Violence Unit of the Belize Police Department. Although the Belize Police Department has not been engaged in the area of reproductive health, Amilcar recognizes the importance of leadership development training within the force and the need to be more proactive in preventing gender-based violence. We expect that Amilcar will act as an agent for change within one of Belize’s most influential government institutions.

Belize Police Department

Elisa Castellanos

GOJoven — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:10:24 +0000

Elisa Castellanos became a Summit Fellow at age 23 and is a dynamic, well-connected and committed woman from Belize City. She is very knowledgeable and committed in the field of reproductive health and in working with the youth of Belize. After years as a volunteer with the Belize Scouts Association and Belize Red Cross, Elisa now works as an associate with the Pan American Social Marketing Organization (PASMO), an affiliate of the DC-based Population Services International. Her job focuses on educating the population, particularly commercial sex workers and uniformed personnel (i.e. police and military) about STIs and HIV/AIDS, and how condoms can prevent the transmission of these diseases.

Pan American Social Marketing Organization (PASMO)