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Kids went back to school on Monday after the holiday break, and for many, that means also going back to their extracurriculars. 

We headed to the Gateway Youth Center to look at one such program and see what the kids were up to - including our friend Johnathan "Windcuttaz" Coleman. Cherisse Halsall reports:

The Sea Scout and Mentorship program is spearheaded by the Belize Coast Guard. Lieutenant Gilroy Lewis says it all starts with the Sea Cadet Pledge, which is the foundation for molding sixty kids from the Southside.

Lt. Gilroy Lewis - Coordinator of the Sea Cadet
"I am a Sea Cadet with respect first of all for self, for others, and for country. I will endeavor to do my utmost best to progress and succeed in all that we do at home, a school, a play. The sea cadet and mentorship program is a program designed for a risk youth in an effort that they would be able to cross the divide to give them hope and to allow them o be successful citizens."

Amal Jones is one of the program's music instructors. He says his steel pan class teaches versatility.

Amal Jones - Music Instructor
"Well learning the steel pan is very essential to, anyone because you must learn how to listen you know it is very keen in listening and also paying a lot of attention to what your next members are doing a lot of times if somebody around you messes up it might take you off track but you still need to stay in it and focus on what you're doing, at the same time it shows the kids a good way of how to multitask and be versatile. I love the energy of the kids. One of the main reasons why I stuck in It and stay around is because children do what children see. I make sure they see the impact of how this can have an essential change in their lives, behavior. The music is also very hand in hand with academics you know when it comes to counting, you know listening, paying attention to others multitasking these are all stuff that you need in school."

A variety of sports are also on offer for the Sea Cadets and this quarter that means basketball with Coach Cleon McCoy. McCoy is all about discipline and he hopes that with the right guidance Sea Cadets can avoid some of the pitfalls of idle or misspent youth.

Cleon McCoy - Sports Instructor, Gateway Youth Center
"Well basketball it's a physical sport and anything physical will contribute o something else physical, so it will definitely assist in sailing because they need energy, they need strength, they need agility to maneuver. Discipline is key they learn teamwork, they learn to respect each other while they're out here, for me discipline is important because that's the foundation of any youth especially nowadays. Some of us ourselves have been through it so we know what it takes we know what are the ins and outs so we need o to assist these youths so that they don' have to face some of these challenges that we went through."

The program was designed specifically to counter the negative influences that children in crime-ridden circumstances are surrounded by.

Lt. Gilroy Lewis
"The Sea Cadet and Mentorship program is the brainchild of the Commandant Belize Coast Guard, he envisioned that based on the crime situation that ravages our nation and takes away some innocent youths and some who get caught up in the crosshairs. Our students come from St. John's Vianney, they come from Unity Presbyterian, they come from Muslim Community, Saint Martin's and we have a few from Grace Primary, Saint Mary's, and now we are about to take a new member."

And that new member is none other than young Jonathan Coleman or "Windcuttaz" as he's come to be known countrywide. You'll remember that ahead of the holidays Commandant Bennet personally offered Jonathan a spot on the sea scouts. Well, he got his first taste of the program today.

Cherisse Halsall
"So far what program do you think you like best?"

Johnathan Coleman - Sea Cadet
"Miss the karate Miss, the steel pan, and maybe when the sailing comes I might get in."

Cherisse Halsall
"So ultimately are you happy that the Commandant made this offer for you?"

Johnathan Coleman
"Yes, happy very happy."

Cherisse Halsall
"How do you think that being here will help you in your future life?"

Johnathan Coleman
"Miss it will help me do much gooder, much good in life, help out people like once somebody can't swim save them and like teach they the rules about swimming and stuffs like that."

Cherisse Halsall
"I know you have preparation for P.S.E. starting next year, so what's your plan for that?"

Johnathan Coleman
"Study hard, miss and get good grades. Then I'll be ready for the P.S.E., rock and loaded."

And while Johnathan is the Sea Cadet's newest recruit the program also enlists young ladies. We got a glimpse of some of them hard at work in sewing class but it's important to note that the girls are presented with all the options available to the boys.

The Sea Cadet and Mentorship Program also offers participants a meal at the end of each session and a quarterly field trip so that they might know the furthest and most exotic regions of their country.