Naparima College launches RSC IT Club to assist those in need

TRINIDAD:  April 20, 2016: Dr. the Honourable Lovell Francis, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education delivered the feature address at the launch of the Restore a Sense of I Can (RSC) IT Club at Naparima College, San Fernando on Monday 18th April, 2016 where 20 computers were gifted to several recipients.

The RSC partnered with Naparima College to launch their Information Technology Club. The Club seeks to expand the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT), which includes repairing used computers and donating them to those in need. Minister Francis commended the school on having such a progressive initiative using what others may deem as a waste. He described this as social and environmental ‘consciousness’.
Addressing the audience, Minister Francis said, “If we are to successfully traverse these difficult times, we do not only need to go out and get more sources of oil and gas, but focus on areas such as innovation and our sense of creativity.”
He also said, “If we have young people like this who can take waste and come up with innovative ways of using it, this helps us socially and I think that we will be able to survive the recession.”
Among the recipients gifted computers were Sponsoring Wings of Hope, Toco Foundation Gate Keepers, Caring Intervention for Troubled Youths, Rio Claro Learning & Development Centre For Special Children, The Princes Town Rotary Club, St. James Police Youth Club, First Church of the Open Bible, Haven of Hope and Ms.Alicia Edwards the Social Worker for Sea Lots Community.
Also visiting the Ste. Madeleine Secondary School where he attended the school’s 40th Anniversary celebrations, Minister Francis met School Principal Mrs. Joy Arjoon-Singh and students where he encouraged them to uphold the name of the school and to take advantage of all the educational opportunities available to them. He said, “I really hope that you take this opportunity to become educated, something in this country we have started taking for granted but which is still very important. There are countries in the Caribbean where students have to pay for secondary schooling. We are privileged in this country to be able to allow our students to access this level of schooling by our collective effort. Students do not waste your time. Do not waste the efforts of your teachers. More significantly do not waste the efforts of your Principal. Come here, learn something and leave here smarter and more prepared than you came in.”
This was Minister Francis’ first visit to Ste. Madeleine Secondary School which had recently concluded the preliminaries for the Secondary School’s Dance Festival.
 

Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Dr. the Honourable Lovell Francis (c) at the launch of the RSC IT Club at Naparima College on April 18, 2016. He is joined by representatives of Naparima College, San Fernando (Photo courtesy the Facebook.com/theministryofeducation)