We are excited to announce that Youth for Road Safety (YOURS) has been awarded the Inclusion and Diversity Award at the IRF 2024 Awards Ceremony during the IRF World Congress 2024 held in Istanbul this October. This honour celebrates their impactful work on the Belize Youth Empowerment Programme, underscoring the power of youth-led initiatives to create safer, more inclusive, and sustainable communities.

In 2014, Belize faced a road safety crisis, with young people representing 30% of road fatalities. In response, YOURS partnered with the Caribbean Development Bank, the Government of Belize through the Ministry of Education, and with Youth to launch the Belize Youth Empowerment Programme. This initiative empowered 35 young leaders to address road safety in their communities, transforming them into change-makers.

The success of this initiative demonstrates the power of multisectoral collaboration—combining the investment of a multilateral bank, the strategic vision of government ministries, and the leadership of youth.