Meet the Fellows!
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Documents and downloads for Fellows.Shamir Rancharan
Shamir Rancharan is an 18-year old student at Corozal Community College who hopes to graduate with an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration in June 2010. Shamir lives in a small aldea of Patchakan where he is a leader in a Catholic youth group and where he and several family members have established BRDP, the only café internet in the community which has become a gathering place for youth. Shamir would like to help coordinate youth-positive activities in the Free Zone between Belize and Mexico where he knows many youth participate in gang, drug, alcohol and sexual activities. In the future Shamir would like to learn more about human rights and manage an NGO in Belize helping to organize youth to advocate for their rights to SRH education. Shamir hopes that his participation in GOJoven will hone his leadership skills and learn about SRH issues.
Daisy Magaña
Daisy Magaña, 21, is from El Progreso Village and is a Biology student at the University of Belize in Belmopan, from which she hopes to graduate in December 2009. Her passion for conservation is drawing her toward a career in marine sciences, but her love of working with youth pulls her towards social work. In the meantime, Daisy is an active member of 4-H and coordinates a youth group that does community service in her village. With support from a Peace Corps volunteer, Daisy is negotiating with the local Catholic Church to establish a youth center in one of the unused church buildings so that the group can offer conservation education and activities to preserve the lake around which El Progreso was built.
Elmer Cornejo
Elmer Cornejo is a dynamic 18-year old DJ at Radio Bahia, one of the main radio stations in Corozal District. Elmer hosts a weekly educational radio program where he interviews experts on various topics including reproductive health, domestic violence, and sexual abuse. He aims through his work to break down complex information for the public on important social issues, especially for youth in rural communities who do not attend school but who listen to the radio every day. Elmer’s goal is to be a medical doctor and eventually have his own clinic, which would also be a resource for youth SRH. Through GOJoven, Elmer aims to better utilize the use of media for education and advocacy.
Nancy Leiva
Nancy Leiva, 26, is a native of Corozal who teaches Caribbean Studies and English at Centro Escolar México Junior College (a high school). Nancy completed her Masters Degree last year in Violence and Gender from the University of Quintana Roo in Chetumal, and hopes to develop programs that improve the lives of women in Belize. She recently founded, and serves as president of the Corozal United Women’s Group, which provides emotional and psychological support to some 20 members. Nancy’s goal is to see women take on greater leadership roles in Belizean society, lead independent lives, and exercise their sexuality responsibly.
Walter Hernandez
Walter Hernandez was an 18-year old senior at Independence High School, when he was selected for GOJoven where he graduated as one of the top three students in his class. He is a leader of his church youth group in the community of Bella Vista and has done some work around youth pregnancy prevention and sexual health. Four years ago, he organized a youth group in his neighborhood to do community service work, and the group is still going strong. He is confident, ambitious and determined, and although he doesn’t have a strong background in the area, he is very excited to learn more about sexual and reproductive health. He is a visionary who would like to study medicine in the future.
Virgen Bermudez
Virgen Bermudez, selected at the age of 23, is a Spanish teacher at a Catholic high school in Dangriga. Despite her young age, Virgen was appointed the head of the Spanish Department last year, where she supervises ten teachers and teaches six classes. She is a role model and informal counselor to the youth in her school, the majority of whom come from broken homes and have a history of poor academic performance. Virgen also serves as the treasurer of Friends in Partnership Reaching Out (FIPRO), a volunteer group that does peer education around HIV and other health issues. She is dedicated to preserving her Garifuna culture and is a leader in a youth group that teaches the Garifuna language to young people. She hopes to complete her BA in Education in the future.
Juan Carlos Martinez
Juan Carlos Martinez, selected at the age of 21, is the president of his Catholic youth group, where he often talks to teens about the importance of valuing their sexuality and protecting themselves against HIV infection. He is passionate about educating youth about their rights and sees unwanted pregnancy and drug addiction as major barriers for youth in Bella Vista Village, where he lives. Juan Carlos currently works as the Human Resources Director for Banana Enterprises, a contracting business in Independence. He is a dynamic young leader who is often sought out in his community to settle disputes amongst youth. He is eager to expand his knowledge about sexual and reproductive health so that he can help his community develop.
Fanny Martinez
Fanny Martinez became a Fellow at age 23. She has worked as a Community Nurse’s Aide in Bella Vista village since the year 2000. Fanny assists at the health center, visits clients and prepares and implements projects for youth groups in Bella Vista and surrounding villages. Given the high prevalence of HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections in the area, she has prioritized prevention in her outreach to youth, and urges both youth and adults to use condoms. She also works closely with the local schools and churches to ensure that young people become more knowledgeable about pregnancy prevention and sexual and reproductive health. Fanny hopes to eventually seek further education in nursing so that she can better serve her community.
Clinica National Health Insurance
Pedro Witz
Pedro Witz was 19 years old when he became a Summit Fellow. At age four he immigrated from Puerto Barrios Guatemala to Punta Gorda, Belize. Pedro has worked at Earth Watch Institute and the Social Investment Fund, and volunteered with the Belize Women’s Department and Toledo Mayan Woman’s Council. He is a leader at his Adventist Reform Church, where he runs a program for children and youth. Pedro is highly committed to youth development and has excellent communication skills and a great sense of leadership. Pedro holds an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Belize in Punta Gorda. He hopes to work in a position where he can “give back to society.” Pedro is interested in educating his community about sexual and reproductive health, and hopes to expand this work to the Toledo District and beyond.
University of Belize
Saira Gutierrez
Saira Gutierrez became a Summit Fellow at age 24. Saira worked for four years as a teacher and vice principal at a primary school in Bella Vista, a poor Spanish-speaking village created 10 years ago to house Central American immigrants working on the banana plantations. Under Saira’s direction, school staff provide workshops on sexual and reproductive health to students. Saira is also a leader in the Bella Vista Catholic youth group, which provides workshops on sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention, in collaboration with the local health center. She is a role model and informal counselor to the youth in her community, who face many health and development challenges. Saira loves teaching and is also interested in studying health in the future.
Our Lady of Bella Vista R.C. School
GOJoven's Mission
GOJoven promotes and supports young leaders to act as catalysts for social change in Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health. Read more here
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