OK GUYS HERE'S THE PLAN.
1. We will buy a new wacker for him. It's about $1500. $500 extra buys him gas and extras.
2. We buy him a phone. Something hardy for about $1000.
3. We give him and his grandma nuff hampers to last till Christmas and New Years.
4. We give him only about $2000 cash but he has to open a Credit Union account. He lives in Pt Cumana so any suggestions greatly appreciated.
5. I want to enroll him in some kind of betterment programme with Social Services or skill development. He's an excellent lead pianist, a competent arranger AND tuner. He has played with Invaders and with Pt Cumana. Any ideas?
6. Yes some of those job offers may also come in handy bearing in mind his lack of the normall array of passes.
7. I have asked my friend Jason who is the Karate coach and one of the main civic leaders in the community to identify some others who may require some assistance so if there is excess it can go there.
The boy has no bank account so I will have to collect the funds on his behalf. I'm not comfortable doing this without an accounting system to everyone. So I'd prefer people buy the hampers (and prefersbly not from the big conglomerate supermaekets unless they donating) and that a donor purchase the wacker and accessories direct (he can direct the best one for him).
I could probably drive around tomorrow and collect monies in the north. I could open up a private page and give account of what is received there if people are not comfortable with putting their names and amounts in the open. If people are cool I can account here.
I spoke to him at length about his possibilities, the temptation, the war for the souls of urban youth, and the responsibility this outreach AND his talent give him. He is willing to shoulder it.
Kirk Perreira has already dropped off a small donation.
Replies
We need more EXPATS like CHAR and GRAFTON coming to the front.
For years I have talked about the LACK OF ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS which is showing its BACKWARD FACE in this discussion. But we could rise above it and FIND WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE.
MARCUS!!! BEVERLEY!!! LAUREN!!! DENISE!!!
PLEASE STEP UP AND CATCH THIS WAVE!!!
I ADMIRE THE PASSION OF THIS MAN: RUBADIRI VICTOR!!!
Although we live in DIFFERENT UNIVERSES WITH THE PAN TING!!!
His ideas on GLOBALIZING THE CULTURE is admirable. Although I don't think that he has the RIGHT APPROACH despite his MASSIVE PLATFORM.
Remember, that ALL I have talked about on THIS FORUM FOR YEARS is GLOBALIZING PAN AND CALYPSO. But you CANNOT SIT DOWN IN TRINIDAD and think that you understand THE OUTSIDE MUSIC MARKET. So i would advise him to REACH OUT to THE EXPATS in NEW YORK -- including WHEN STEEL TALKS if he is serious about HIS PUSH TO TAKE TRINIDAD CULTURE WORLDWIDE!!!
I appreciate the proposed approach outlined by Rubadiri Victor. He has graciously taken the time to make a difference in the life of a brother in need; for this I am delighted. With compassion and generosity, let's continue to reach back, lift-up and affirm others. As an expat, I await your advice regarding the suggested method to submit donations. I am assuming that the funds are quoted in TTD.
Rubadiri....I do not live in T’dad but I’m Trinidadian and a complete steel band aficionado. I would love to contribute to putting this young man on the right path. However unless you open up a “go fund me” account - no one from overseas who would like to “do something for pan” can help by donating $$ to this young man. Call Kenny Phillips at WACK 90.1 in SAN Fernando and I’m sure he’ll help you to set this up as he loves pan too.
I am sure there are pan men & women In the US, Canada, UK & Europe who will contribute something to this young man....as the saying goes....”there but for the grace of God - goes us.”
Char: A man with your PASSION could step up and PLAY A GREAT ROLE.
I have read all YOUR POSTINGS!!!