Local tech firm donates tablets, laptop to state agency

Audrey Budhi, director of children and family programmes, at the CPFSA, expressed her gratitude for the donation.

“This donation has come at an opportune time as we all have been impacted by the pandemic, it has been a life changing experience for all of us and more so for our children.

And so, we are quite pleased that a donation such as this will help with the preparation of our children for online learning.

“We are truly and profoundly grateful for these devices, which we have received from MC Systems. Actually, MC Systems is the first company which has reached out to us, and for that we are grateful,” she said.

The devices, Budhi informs, will be used by wards of the state who matriculated to the tertiary level; while noting that this year’s batch who sat the Caribbean Secondary Examinations (CSEC) did extremely well.

“One of our wards who benefitted from the gift is 18 year-old Ainsley Rodhen, who passed nine subjects this year, to complete grade 11 with 14 CSEC subjects.  The former B.B. Coke High School student received seven distinctions, seven credits, and a pass,” she related.

He is currently attending the Caribbean Maritime University, where he is pursuing a degree in logistics and supply chain management.

Other students who benefitted are attending The University of the West Indies, GC Foster of Physical Education and Sport and Churches  Teacher’s College.

Dodgry Newell, senior manager, customer experience at MC Systems, said the company was delighted to donate the electronic devices to the state agency.

“We recognise that many children are at a disadvantage during this COVID-19 pandemic, due to the lack of resources, specifically computers and tablets, to engage in online learning. We, therefore, hope that this donation will assist the wards at the CPFSA,” Newell said.

He underscored that MC Systems deemed it a privilege to assist the agency in this manner.

“Our children and young people are the future. Education is critical for them and the nation. To be a competitive person in our modern world is impossible without receiving a good education. And, it is not possible to be a strong nation or country without well-developed and educated citizens,” he emphasised.

And Budhi says she's hopeful that other companies will join MC System, to assist the CPFSA as our international partners who would assist us with scholarships and grants for our children have also been impacted by the pandemic.