The Los Bajos Youth Development Centre has received a much-needed upgrade, with expanded and updated facilities and services to match the changing technological landscape needed for the community’s youth to help them thrive.
The Centre, which was opened in October 1990, has been designed as a safe space for young people in the community to transform their dreams into reality, providing programmes and certification that empower them and transform their lives.
Speaking at the recommissioning of the Centre, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Phillip Watts said the space is a symbol of the renewal of a promise that their futures matter.
“When we speak about youth development, we are not only talking about creating programmes. We are talking about building lives. We are talking about developing skills that can unlock job opportunities, start a business, support a family, and change a community. And here in Los Bajos, we have seen the proof.”
The Centre now boasts three multi-purpose classrooms, a fully equipped auditorium, a youth-friendly digital space, a kitchen, a computer room, a gym area, and upgraded restroom facilities.
Minister Watts revealed a partnership between the Ministry and YTEPP’s YouTech Programme, which will facilitate income-generating courses and management skills.
“It’s about empowerment. It’s about giving young people the ability to stand on their own feet, to contribute meaningfully to their families, their communities, and to this beautiful country. Ladies and gentlemen, youth development must be rooted in access, dignity, and belief. We must believe in our young people. We must give them the tools, the space, and the opportunities to grow. And then, we must get out of their way and let them lead.”
Minister Watts encouraged people to recommit to the mission of providing more opportunities for the nation’s young people, and to make spaces such as the Los Bajos Youth Development Centre the national standard.