Kinnesha George
The Tobago Pan-Thers Steel Orchestra and the Digicel Foundation have collaborated to open a new homework center and after-school program in Golden Lane. The initiative was launched on Wednesday at the Tobago Pan-Thers panyard at Seaview Trace, Golden Lane.
Through this partnership, Tobago Panthers received funding to develop the project. Renovations have been carried out to bring the space up to standard; computers, printers and other equipment have been acquired as well as Internet access; and a general layout of the space to make it fully functional.
Tobago West MP Shamfa Cudjoe congratulated the Steel Orchestra for this initiative and also praised the Digicel Foundation for recognizing its social responsibility.
“We’re glad Digicel is on board – the private sector is stepping up and showing up – because often we’re so dependent on central government, and it doesn’t have to start and stop there. It could start with your private group and the private sector also has its duty to intervene, and I salute Digicel because they take their job and their responsibility very seriously.
Digicel Foundation director Georgina Peterkin said the project gave her hope for the community.
“On behalf of the Digicel Foundation, I would like to thank all of the partners in this project for their unwavering support and dedication to meeting the changing needs of the community and young people. I know that we will share the same hope that these centers would be well used and benefit all members of the community by facilitating access to online education, other services and much more. »
Nathalia Joseph, THA Community Development, Youth Development and Sports Division Officer, responsible for the region, pledged her support.
“As a youth leader, it is my responsibility to support this initiative as best I can. One of the ways I plan to do this is to implement a self-directed homework center program in the Signal Hill community.
However, she was quick to add that for such a program to succeed, there must be volunteers.
“It takes people – sixth graders, university students, retired teachers, people who just have a knack for training and teaching and just care about other people. I would be here, and I would be here at least once a day and I would volunteer my time as a youth leader, but not just my time, also my expertise to ensure that this youth development center is the first of its kind.
She said she has already found a sponsor who is willing to lend her support. “Before we go where the money is, I want us to go where our hearts are. I want us to go where everything I’ve heard – the screams, the challenges, the complaints.
“Wherever these things are, I want us to put our hearts into it,” she said, noting that the Digicel Foundation would have done its part.
Pan Trinbago President Beverley Ramsey-Moore was also present at the launch.
