Inspiration Arts Gets Laptop Donation
A pair of men from the Faber’s Road area of Belize City has for years been creating opportunities for the youth in Port Loyola. Inspiration Arts is known for providing school bags and back-to-school haircuts to hundreds of youngsters who are in need of this support. But the COVID-19 pandemic revealed many children lacked electronic devices for remote learning. Their appeal for help was heard and now a dozen touch-screen laptops will be available to the community. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Edmond Staine
Duane Moody, Reporting
Twelve laptops – it may not seem like a large number, but this donation from the Inter-American Development Bank to Inspiration Arts is a more than just second hand I.C.T. equipment. It is being received as hope for the future of the country.
Edmond Staine, Co-founder, Inspiration Arts
“It’s just a blessing to know that people are listening to us and I am thankful to platforms like Channel Five and give us this voice to be able to reach out to the people. We were able to be heard by the people from IDB and they actually reached out to me. And I discussed with Brian to explain to him what was going on and we were able to put a proposal to them. They were happy to help us. They were replacing some of their computers and we were able to get some of those computers. But the caveat with it was that we didn’t get the stuff to give away. They wanted to be able to bless as much people as possible.”
A small space on the second floor of the Port Loyola Organization for Women was made available to the organization and is now being transformed into a resource center in the heart of Kraal Road. It will primarily provide a safe space for students who are without access to devices for education purposes.
Edmond Staine
“Last time we did an interview, we were at the Saint John Vianney giving out school bags. Through strategic planning and sessions that we had with them, we realized that the school bags were not the major need at the time. The kids needed to be connected to school. It was heartfelt for me because I’m one of those kids that didn’t have internet all the way up to high school and didn’t have device. So to know that there were some kids out there being affected by COVID and not being able to connect to school, we made a passionate plea at that time to try to get some devices. We are working with the schools right now, we have some flyers that we are going to have some sensitization sessions with them to see how we can plan how the kids will come because there are only twelve devices and we have to take turns and see the ones that are most urgent. We are looking at the ones that are most urgent; we’re looking at the guys that have S.B.A.s and C.X.C.s that kinda thing. And even further to that, there are some adults around here who don’t have computers at home, trying to find a job – do a resume, a job letter, that sort of stuff – you come right here and you’ll be able to get that done. So this is a multifaceted, multiuse center that we want to have grown into much more.”
Inspiration Arts started as a small project by Brian Dena and Edmond Staine in the Faber’s Road extension area by providing free back-to-school haircuts and hair-braiding for boys and girls, before provided school bags and school supplies to hundreds.
Brian Dena
Brian Dena, Co-founder, Inspiration Arts
“Over the years you’ve been with us doing the back-to-school children drive, the Christmas parties, and the Easter break. I am glad to see and I am happy today we received twelve laptops, computers for our resource center that we are trying to get going now. I knew from the beginning we didn’t know exactly where we wanted to go, but somehow by doing good stuff in the neighborhood and seeing the need as the years go by, we saw many more things that needed to be done. With the grace of the Lord, this is where it is now. So I am very thankful for that as well.”
The resource center is still in need of a printer and other supplies.
Edmond Staine
“Right now we are still updating the computers, trying to get some software. We still need stuff so I hope that somebody is listening out there. We need an A.C. unit for the space, we have to pay for a Microsoft suite; we need antivirus, we need some battery backups. Those are some of the immediate needs so that we can have the space functioning. We are trying to get it during the Easter break so that whenever school opens back for these children, they will be able to come to the resource center as soon as the Easter Break is out.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
