15 Laptops to Help with Hybrid Learning
Today City Hall was the venue for a laptop handing over ceremony. Over twenty thousand Belize dollars worth of ACER devices were handed over to deserving recipients and it was an exciting moment as the donation was made possible through a sister city partnership established between Belize and Taiwan. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Twelve students and three institutions were awarded laptops today to help with the transition as schools reopen to hybrid learning. The recipients are from both primary and secondary schools and were among the most deserving.
Bernard Wagner
Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor
“Having access to technological devices in 2022 is as essential to having access to a phone booth a few decades ago. So, when we consider the digital divide, the unfortunate situations where some can have access to digital devices for learning and communicating and others can’t for financial reasons is truly incumbent on us to bridge that gap. Every single young mind has the capacity to learn and to further the development of their skill sets or their interest. We try to be as proactive and as resourceful as we can and with the support of our team, central government, business persons and philanthropists within our city, one by one we have been chiselling away at the digital divide which is a threat to the incredible potential of our city’s students.”
The donation was made possible through sister city relation with the Kaohsiung City. And following a virtual message from its mayor, Chen Chi-Mai, Taiwanese Ambassador to Belize, David Kuan-Chou Chien addressed the gathering.
David Kuan-Chou Chien
David Kuan-Chou Chien, Taiwanese Ambassador to Belize
“As the new school semester just commenced, today’s donation of fifteen laptops is an opportune and fitting gift from Kaohsiung City to Belize City to highlight the sister city relations which was established in 2005. The COVID-19 pandemic knows no boundaries and has changed the way we educate our young generation. The access to digital appliance is pivotal when physical classes have transformed into online learning.”
Bernard Wagner
“We are especially proud that every single beneficiary today was selected as some of the most deserving out of a large pool of persons who were also deserving. Today’s ceremony is only one ceremony, but we want to repeat this as often as possible. Let’s continue to join forces to build a better world – not just one country or one city at a time, but home by home, youth by youth for it is within them that our future lies and it is through our support of their development that a brighter tomorrow will come to pass.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
