SCOTIABANK Guyana on Friday presented US$14,000 to the Tina Insanally Foundation (TIF), giving a boost to the entity which uses music as a medium to enrich the lives of children who are innately talented, but who otherwise, have few opportunities for self-expression.The cheque was handed over to TIF’s executive Ms. Sara Insanally by ScotiaBank’s Marketing Manager, Ms. Jennifer Cipriani amidst fanfare, as members of the group of talented young musicians trained through the foundation, regaled persons present at the ceremony held at the Guyenterprise office on Forshaw and Irving Streets, Queenstown.
Under the baton of instructor Mark Lee from the celebrated “Chad Arthur’s Band”, a group of about 15 students drawn from member organisations, the Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre; Marian’s Academy (through St. Ann’s Orphanage), and St. John’s Bosco among others enthralled the guests as they rendered choice pieces on guitar, the violin and a steelpan. Musical renditions included: “Thinking of Love”; “Oh Danny Boy”; and “Imagine”.
Managing Director of Guyenterprise, Mr. Vic Insanally, who is also the father of Tina Insanally in whose memory the Foundation was established, joined his wife Mrs. Pat Insanally in welcoming those present. He expressed gratitude to ScotiaBank for the noble gesture, particularly former Country Manager, Ms. Amanda St. Aubyn and Ms. Cipriani for making it possible for the Foundation to benefit from ScotiaBank’s Bright Future programme.
Ms. Sara Insanally expressed pride and joy at looking around to see students who, according to her, “have really blossomed through the years.” She expressed gratitude to ScotiaBank for

recognising and supporting their efforts at bringing music into children’s lives, and making it possible for the foundation to worry less about funding and being able to channel their time and energies on training the students to become great musicians.
Sara said the Tina Insanally Foundation (TIF) was created in 2010 with the goal of working to enrich the lives of Guyanese children. From time to time they would hold concerts or do performances, and from the proceeds pay stipends to the children.
To date, the foundation boasts over 200 young musicians, both in Georgetown and at Lovely Lass, West Coast Berbice, where there are about 60 children in training. TIF works in collaboration with local partners to ensure that the children on its programmes are provided with the resources and care they need to live healthy and fulfilled lives.
“We believe that music can make a difference in young lives. We believe in its potential to promote learning, to encourage healing and generally, to enrich the lives of children who otherwise have few opportunities for self-expression,” Sara said, adding that TIF is committed to realising Tina’s dream to make a difference in the world through music.
Noting that there are many children in Guyana who have never been exposed to music, Ms. Insanally said it is the foundation’s goal to change this by working with music teachers and volunteers to bring music into the lives of children, particularly those who are disadvantaged.
Meanwhile, Ms. Cipriani said that credit was due to former Country Manager, Ms. Amanda St. Aubyn for initiating the grant of the fund and disclosed that the foundation was granted a total of US $42,000 over a three-year period. This sum is to be disbursed in three tranches, beginning with US $14,000 on this occasion. She expressed confidence that the managers of the foundation will manage the money properly, so that TIF will get the best value out of it. She added that she looks forward to working with TIF in the ensuing years.

ABOUT TINA
An obituary documented by the Insanally family vividly reflects on the life of the budding young musician and humanitarian, whose life is now being celebrated:
“Tina’s tragic and sudden death in 2010 cut deep, but more indelible was the profound impact this young woman had on the lives of so many during her 23 years with us from her family and friends to her Brescia College alumni and the many disadvantaged children she gave so much of her time and heart to. Her ready smile, compassion, unswerving faith, talent and love of music brought and continues to bring comfort and joy to many.
“Tina’s journals testify to her long- standing and abiding interest in music and of her talent, awakened and nurtured by her grandmother, a talent that she wanted to develop and to share, and perhaps with her beautiful singing voice, carve out a career in the field of music. It was her dream. Her family supported and encouraged this dream, enrolling her first at Mae’s School, where she won many elocution and poetry competitions, emceed functions, performed in school choirs and got her first taste of audience appreciation with her rendition of a Shania in song in the school auditorium. She was chosen to sing the theme song at her graduation.
“Encouraged by her Ma, she attended piano classes run by Mrs. Marilyn Dewar. She completed piano courses to Grade 4, won the ORIN BARROW Trophy in 2003 for the best National Grade 4 Performance, and performed at the “Young Musicians on Stage” shows organised by the Guyana Music Teachers Association. She loved dancing and appeared at the National Cultural Centre in the Nritya Geet dance shows organised by the Shaw family and in presentations by Nadira Jagan’s Let’s Dance Studio.
“In 2007, Tina left for Brescia University College in Canada. During her summer visits home, she linked up with Chad Arthur & his Band – Francis Bailey, Mark lee and Jason Harper. Tina spent many happy hours rehearsing with the band. She performed with the band in 2009 at the Oasis Café, where she sang her signature tune – Norah Jones’s “Don’t Know Why” and again on Friday night August 6, 2010 at her sister, Lisa’s nightclub ‘Mojos,’ where she performed Cindy Lauper’s ‘Time After Time.’
“She was also possessed of a deep and solid faith in God and relied heavily on His guidance. She had an awesome affection for family and friends and deep concern for the less fortunate in the world, as evidenced by her doing voluntary work whilst in Canada. At home, she worked closely with children in the Red Cross Convalescent Home, and as they grew older, she would continue visiting them at the St. Ann’s Girls’ Orphanage and the St. John’s Bosco Boys’ Orphanage. She spent time in her last days buying gifts for the girls.
“TIF celebrates Tina’s generous, compassionate and enduring spirit and sets out to give the gift of music where it’s needed most.”

By Shirley Thomas