Pt Fortin students need funds

Performing at the International Music Festival in Spain would be like a dream come true for students of the Point Fortin Homework Centre. They possess the talent to make T&T proud, but a major obstacle threatens to shatter their dream—funding. It will cost a total of $586,000 for a contingent of 45 people, including singers, musical accompanists and chaperones, to travel to the city of Callela, Barcelona, where the competition is being held.

The Cantar al Mar Festival runs from October 15 to 21. In an effort to raise funds, the centre is hosting a concert titled A September To Remember, at Palo Seco Secondary School Auditorium on September 1, and is appealing to members of the public to support the event. The centre’s co-ordinator Veronica Nolan said students have been practising every day and were excited about participating at the international event. 

She said the invitation to attend the festival was through the intervention of one of the adjudicators of the 2010 National Music Festival. “We missed our shot at the finals by one point, but one of the adjudicators was impressed by the students and he organised for us to participate in Spain’s festival,” she said.

Nolan said the centre, established in 2009, is run by the Human Development Foundation. She said they initially catered for high-risk students, between the ages of five and 17, in the Point Fortin area, but have since attracted students from Cedros, Fyzabad and La Romaine schools. All tutors volunteer their services and they depend on corporate sponsors to run the centre. They do not get a subvention from the Government.

The students have participated in several national events, Nolan said, but it is the first time that they would be participating in an international event. She said, “I think we are the only ones who have been invited...The children will be so disappointed if we cannot raise the money.” She promised an enjoyable three-hour concert filled with song, dance and drama.  “You will be amazed by the talents of these children,” she said.

Tickets cost $100 for adults and $50 for children and available at the OWTU Branch Hall, Point Fortin, where the centre is housed, or call 490-1650, 356-4247, 307-0963. The centre has also set up an account at the Republic Bank Point Fortin branch for donations—970467285501.