Entrepreneurs Ashley Hope and Damien Pinder, are encouraging fellow alumni to give back to their alma maters following their donation of three high-definition 4K televisions, to support digital learning at The St. Michael School.
Mr. Hope who is a director of PinderHope Enterprises Ltd. along with Mr. Pinder said he wants to see more former students stepping forward to assist, noting “The school has many needs, and we’re hoping this encourages others who are in a position to help, to come back and do the same.”
L-R – 2 Damien Pinder and Ashley Hope (Directors PinderHope Enterprises Ltd.); Tanya Harding (Principal, The St. Michael School)
The St. Michael School officials say the contribution is already improving how teachers deliver lessons, with Principal, Ms. Tanya Harding noting it directly addresses a longstanding challenge of integrating more visual learning into classrooms due to a shortage of projectors.
“It’s often the first teachers to sign them out that get them” pointed out Ms. Harding, who taught the pair Integrated Science some 20 years ago. “Having a permanently placed TV in specialist rooms allows teachers to use technology without worrying whether equipment is available. It benefits teachers and certainly benefits students.”
L-R – Damien Pinder, Director PinderHope Enterprises Ltd.); Tanya Harding (Principal, The St. Michael School); Ashley Hope (Director, PinderHope Enterprises Ltd);
Mrs. Susan Alleyne Forde, Head of the Fine Arts Department, echoed this sentiment stating that the televisions have already made a major difference in the Arts department. “The inclusion of the TVs has been amazing. We’re now able to show demonstrations, videos and teaching materials in real time so every student can clearly see what is being taught. It feels like we’ve finally entered this century with the [in classroom] technology we’ve wanted for a long time.”
According to Mr. Pinder “While we were at the school two decades ago, EduTech was a buzz word that was to see digital devices included in classroom learning. So to know that classrooms still lacked the basic technology of 4k TVs with wifi access, we had to do something about it. We want other alumni to know that giving back doesn’t always have to be financial. Whether it’s your time, skills or resources, every contribution can make a difference.”
Ashley Hope (Director, PinderHope Enterprises Ltd); Tanya Harding (Principal, The St. Michael School); Damien Pinder, Director PinderHope Enterprises Ltd.)
Mr. Hope and Mr. Pinder, who manages a multi-media group of companies under the PinderHope banner, decided to make the donation after learning more about the school’s needs while supporting another alumni initiative on campus.
As The St. Michael School approaches its 98th anniversary, the donation is being positioned as one example of how alumni can play a role in strengthening the institution and supporting future generations of students.
The post PinderHope Enterprises’ directors donate TVs to former school, encourage alumni support appeared first on Barbados Today.
