By Belize Live News Staff: In an effort to provide more economic opportunities for women and youth in northern Belize, the Office of the Prime Minister and Ministry of Investment, in collaboration with the National Women’s Commission and the Orange Walk Town Council, has expanded the “Cell Phone Repair Course for Women and Youth” to the Orange Walk district.
The program, which currently has 14 participants, is designed to empower women and youth by providing them with the skills needed to service and repair cell phones. This training fills a critical gap, as there is currently a lack of trained technicians in this field, particularly in rural areas. The course is expected to help participants create self-employment opportunities by addressing the growing demand for cell phone repair services, especially in underserved areas of the country.
The initiative follows the success of the program in Corozal, where half of the trainees now offer cell phone repair services. Expanding the course to Orange Walk is seen as a natural progression, with expectations of similar positive outcomes for the participants.
The launch of the program was attended by several key figures, including Mrs. Narda Garcia, CEO in the Office of the Prime Minister, Investment, and Civil Aviation; Mrs. Thea Garcia-Ramirez, Chair of the National Women’s Commission; Mr. Lincoln Blake, Director of the Investment Policy and Compliance Unit; and Mr. Allen Yu, Councilor in the Orange Walk Town Council.
The expansion of this course is part of a broader effort to diversify Orange Walk’s economy by equipping its citizens with new skills. This training aims to boost the entrepreneurial spirit within the community and support the growth of sectors like the Orange Economy. By providing training in cell phone repair, a key tool in content creation and digital entrepreneurship, the program hopes to help women generate additional income from home, contributing to the district’s economic growth.