Party Celebrates Kids’ Futures

THE government knows young people will play an important role in Costa Rica’s future and want to demonstrate that they recognize the things the nation’s youth have done and will do. So March 18–28, Costa Rica will be the stage for the International Festival of Youth Expression.

“The future is in the hands of the youth,” says Robert Gifford, executive secretary of the festival. “We want to get across the message that they can make the future better.”

The purpose of the festival is to help make young people’s voices be heard, as well as to give them a chance to show their talents and abilities in the arts, sports, science and technology.

“We want to show that young people are doing good things,” Gifford says.

THE festival hopes to bring together people between the ages of 12 to 35 from all parts of the country. Organizers are hoping to bring more than one million people together during the 10-day event. A number of activities have been scheduled, including theater performances, sports expos and competitions, an anime and comic exposition, art shows and concerts.

Some of the highlights will be a performance by the Chilean rock group La Ley March 27, the inaugaration ceremony on March 19 with events around the Central Valley, including a concert featuring local group Evolución at the Plaza de la Democracia, an extreme sports demo in Sabana Park featuring events such as Motocross and skateboarding, a variety of workshops around the Central Valley and exhibits at CENAC and Aduana Antigua buildings.

Sponsored by the Viceministry of Youth along with the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports, the Presidency of the Republic and dozens of other organizations, organizers hope that young people will enjoy the event and that it will become an annual celebration.

FOR more info, including a complete schedule of events and locations, see www.festivaljoven.com or www.siemprelistos.com.