15 boys from different areas of the Southside are training to be barbers. Sr. Supt. Howell Gillett teamed up with Belmopan barber Nicholas Ara from Z's barbershop and Winston "Brick City" Harris. It is a weeklong training and we dropped by today at the Princess Hotel to find out how barbering can make a difference in the lives of these young men.
Sr. Supt Howell Gillett - Southside Commander
"When we go around the different neighbourhoods we find out that part of the crime problem that currently exists in the city has to do with young people not being employed, meaning young people 13, 14 up to 20 doing nothing during the day and that itself breathes crime. So these young people will learn in this week how to do a haircut and they will go on, we will try to help them open their own business, to be self-employed. I believe it will help in some way with the crime situation. Also the top 5 from the 15 will walk away with a new machine. It is worth $250, we get support from the community to do this project."
Nicholas Ara - Barber
"This basically can provide for kids so they can help provide for their family. Beside this week, I want to follow up with two more courses that will be going on for a week also with these same guys because we want to continue. I just don't want us to start with the guys and don't follow up with them and maybe somewhere down the line we can find someone to invest in them to create jobs."
Courtney Weatherburne
"So are you serious about barbering?"
Tyrick Loriano - Martins Resident
"Yes ma'am, I want to learn something in life because I want to come off the street. You know it's hard on the streets nothing is out there."
The boys are from several areas of the south side including Martin's, Mayflower, and Rocky Road among others.
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