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Kirwin Ramirez: A Community Hero
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rowing up on the streets of Seine Bight, 27 yearold Kirwin had a challenging start. As a child, he was bullied by his peers, which caused low self-esteem, frustration and anger. He would often become embroiled in fights and was walking dangerously on a path of self-destruction. He often felt worthless, depressed, and even contemplated suicide.
His honest and poignant lyrics speak to all of us as a melting pot of different cultures and ethnicities, bringing us closer together as he talks about the pain, the love and the heartbreaks to which many of us can relate. His style of music is influenced by local and international reggae and rap artists.
In his song ‘Giving up is not an option’, he sends a message of hope saying that no matter how difficult But music became his saving things may become, to look grace. He discovered his inside yourself and to God passion at a very young age. for strength. His powerful He started free-styling and lyrics stem from his personal recording his songs when he experiences, his struggles, was only 11. Music allowed and things he observes in Kirwin Ramirez of Seine Bight Village says he overcame the him to channel his anger and the world, such as injustice early obstacles of his life through his passion for music, faith in confusion into something and racism. God and his community volunteer work. meaningful and beautiful. This self-taught musician In addition to his thriving his cousin, is another import- ents of the village; he would learned how to play guitar, music career, he is an active ant person helping him in his love to open a salon for drums and the keyboard as community player. Wherevmission. Kirwin also orga- girls to offer hair-braiding a form of self-expression er there is change, Kirwin nizes beach clean ups, and and a barber shop for the and healing. In his youth, he is there. He hosts a youth if he tells one child about it, boys. He thinks acquiring joined a band called, "Fall- group every Friday evening it’s only a matter of minutes boats and training some tour en Star" and performed at at his church that sometimes before 20 or 30 kids come guides would help increase special events and parties. gathers up to one hundred running to help. They look the tourism in the village Music became everything to kids. He provides them a safe up to him as a role model, a and help it prosper. In the him; it saved his life. space for worship and other motivator, and a counsellor. future, he is aspiring to be community activities. He’s To me, he is nothing short of part of the Seine Bight VilAt the age of 17, having been also been coaching three an angel. lage Council to participate in through many difficult times, generations of football (socdecision-making and seeking Kirwin became a believer cer) players, some of which On top of all his voluntary more financial support to of God. He started praying have become semi-profeswork, he is currently com- carry out his much-needed and studying the Bible, and sional. He has been very acpleting his associates degree initiatives. with His help, turned his life tive in the Seine Bight girls’ in natural resources managearound. The guidance of his running club, spearheaded ment while teaching phys- His advice to the youth is to loving mother and his new- by Wanda Stakutis (who has ical education at Peninsula “love the life you live, and found spirituality helped him also been heavily involved in International Academy in live the life you love, but be find strength and courage many community projects, Placencia and offering much careful of the choices you to face these obstacles and such as the opening of the of his time playing music at make. Those choices will to challenge himself into new library). The children his church. affect the course of your making better choices for Kirwin mentors are growlife”. He encourages kids his future. ing to become independent, When I asked him where and teens to make their edpositive, and hard-working he gets all his energy (and ucation a priority, and to go adults, who are themselves Much of his artistic work whether or not he ever to college so that more doors effecting change in Seine is the fruit of his spiritual sleeps!) he answered that open to them, and they can Bight, a community that awakenings. Over the years, God gives him everything he live their dreams. struggles with many social and as his faith grew, his needs to live out his purpose. ills such as domestic viomusical style evolved. He He says the power comes He would like to thank evlence, child abuse, crime started creating his own from our mind too, and if eryone who has supported and alcoholism that are ofvideo clips with family and we have a strong mind, we him emotionally and finanten hidden being under the friends. He even attracted can accomplish anything; we cially over the years. He is glow of a thriving tourism and inspired followers of all can even save lives. And I especially thankful for his destination. ages from his village and the can testify that he has helped sister and Olympian Kaina wider peninsula alike, who save many lives, including Martinez, for giving him embrace his creative spirit Some of the students he mine. support and encouragement and message for positive coached such as Zadel and his whole life. He shows change. His fan following Jahmal are now assisting Kirwin has big dreams for much gratitude for his Pasalso extends to other parts him in teaching football to Seine Bight. He wants to tor, Jim Menses, for his spiriof Belize, and he says he the younger kids and he is build a restaurant that serves tual guidance and mentoring. would love to reach out to an thankful to have them follow cultural food and provides He would also like to thank international audience. in his footsteps. Jose Maria, employment for single par- Shaylene Todd, of Itz'ana
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By ALINE HABIB
Kirwin has big dreams for Seine Bight. He wants to build a restaurant that serves cultural food promoting Belize's cuisine and provides employment for single parents of the village; he would love to open a salon for girls to offer hair-braiding and a barber shop for the boys. He thinks acquiring boats and training some tour guides would help increase the tourism in the village and help it prosper. In the future, he is aspiring to be part of the Seine Bight Village Council to participate in decisionmaking and seek the financial support to carry out his much-needed initiatives.
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See KIRWIN on page 11
