Trinidad Newsday
THE Success Laventille Secondary School (SLSS) Steel Orchestra, Success Stars Pan Sounds, is seeking $500,000 to fund its visit to Cuba on August 22 to 30 at the invitation of the Cuban Institute of Music on behalf of the Government of Cuba.
Approved by the TT Ministry of Education, this will be an educational and cultural exchange for pupils to interact with their peers in Cuba and visit places of interest, so as to enrich their educational experience. Friends of SLSS, in a statement yesterday, said the school’s formula for success is to combine academics with co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. “Despite our geographic location and socio-economic challenges, SLSS has produced many graduates who have contributed and continue to contribute positively in Trinidad and Tobago and abroad.”
These include persons who excelled nationally and internationally such as Jamila Harris (Economics), Nigel Austin (Molecular Biology), Andrew Hunt (Mathematics), Codrington Pan Family (Steelpan), Neisha Guy (Vocalist) and Kieron Pollard (Cricket).
“SLSS is the main pilot school for the Pan in Education (PIE) software that incorporates ICT, animation, indigenous rhythms and instruments of Trinidad and Tobago for teaching a curriculum for developing Music industry professionals. The curriculum encompasses Music Literacy, Music Production, Technical English, Steelpan Manufacturing and Business modules, appropriately supported by the Social Sciences.”
Replies
It's is ambitious of SLSS steel orchestra to try and raise their own funds for this project, seeing the nature of it one would hope that the Ministry of Education and a few of the large companies in T&T should be glad to give a helping hand.
Does T&T allow any "local" crowdfunding web sites like GoFundMe??? (F.Y.I. $500,00.00TTD converts to approx. 80,000.00USD)
To make this trip a reality the group needs $500,000. “We are hoping that generous corporations and individuals will help us achieve this objective,” said the group. Deposits can be made to:
“Success Laventille Secondary School Steel Orc”, Scotiabank Account #: 1202636. For more details call coordinator Nick Cumberbatch at 782-9328, or Chairman Local School Board chairman, Robert Hernandez, at 798-5887. Visit Success Stars Pan Sound on Facebook.