photo-2-1The 2016 Commonwealth Youth Worker of the Year for the Caribbean and Americas is Belizean, Ms. Manuela Lue, director of the Energy for Life programme in Belize, which mentors and tutors under-privileged Belizean youth in handicraft production, connecting them with their culture and enabling them to earn a living.

Ms Lue said: “Youth workers do an extremely important job which is moulding the minds and shaping the hearts of all these young people. It is very important as there’s a lot of work that goes into making these young people productive and responsible citizens. I hope to go back with more ideas about how to grow the programme and how to make it bigger and better.

The Minister Counsellor within the Belize High Commission was on hand at the November 2016 Award Ceremony to present Ms. Lue with her award.