THE David Rose Special School is calling on the Government for assistance to acquire steel pans to revive pan music in the school. This would allow students an opportunity to be part of the National Schools Steelband Competition.The call came on Friday during an exhibition of the work of 15 student fabric designers organised by local designer Sonia Noel.

According to teacher Jenel Bristol, who made the call, as long as the school receives a complete steel band, experts from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), one of the school’s benefactors, will help with training.

“We need steelpan,” she said. “We had an active steelband; we would like the Ministry to give us back steelpan. We know for sure (that) if we get the pan we will get the training. GDF has adopted us; whatever we need, as long as they have it, they give it to us.”

And in an effort to revitalise its craft department, the school is seeking an additional five sewing machines to complement the one donated by COURTS through the Sonia Noel Foundation.

According to Bristol, the school is in the process of upgrading its Information Technology (IT) department with the help of the United Women’s Organisation (UWO) and in collaboration with NT Computec and other partners. She said the school would welcome whatever support it can get, whether from individuals, businesses or organisations, and in whatever other skill area, as long as it’s beneficial to the students.

OPEN TO SUGGESTION
“We’re open to advice,” Bristol said. “We’re open to motivation and training as well. We will continue the work here; we’re not gonna stop here. We’re willing and ready to take on the task,” she told the Guyana Chronicle on Friday.

Noting that the needs of the school are many, Bristol said there’s also a wealth of creativity that needs to be harnessed. There’s also the craft department, she said, which can well do with additional materials such as paints, brushes, paper, sponge, beads, string and cloth.

As for its cosmetology department, which teaches students general cosmetology, Bristol said that, too, is in dire need of sponsorship so that the students can achieve higher learning in the field in external cosmetology programmes.

Other departments include Agricultural Science and Home Economics, and the students are also educated in the basic subject areas, such as Mathematics, English Language, Science and Social Studies.

The fabric art project is the second phase of an ongoing project by Noel, Bristol said.

“Ms. Noel would have done a simpler project before with the deaf,” she said, “but she is now back with us, and this one is a bit more exciting and more challenging; and everybody’s enjoying and loving it.

“They have grown attached to this project. When we said we’re gonna only work with the first eleven stencils that we’ve made, there is where we noticed the students coming up with more ideas. And when they bring their stencils, there are other students who are taking those stencils and adding the colours to create…

“It’s bringing out the creativity in our students, and it’s helping our students to know that it’s not just what somebody offers you that you can do, but you can do more than what you think.”

ONGOING CHARITABLE WORK

Noel told the Guyana Chronicle that the project is in keeping with the ongoing charitable work of her organization — to help those who are many times overlooked. “This is one of the pioneering projects that I hope would build a momentum,” Noel said.

She said the students at the David Rose School are being taught by her daughter Shonta Noel to design creative cards and posters, and that her organization has established a “designers room”, which also features designed fabric samples in attractive frames which are suitable as wall hangings.

“We want to develop that area; we want to develop their skills, so that they can get employment with (me) and other designers,” Noel said, adding: “People need to be more aware of children living with disabilities; we need to place more emphasis on them, that they would feel more comfortable in society.

“We need to give them that platform; we need to incorporate them in what we do.”

The 50 fashion pieces created in the project will be displayed during the launch of the special Guyana Fashion Week showcase for Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary later this month; and will be on sale, with the proceeds being put towards the development of the school.

This leg of the project lasted two weeks and benefited 15 students, both male and female, from ages 14 to 19.
“They had a lot of energy in there,” Noel said. “I am so reignited; it’s my passion! Every time I leave that school I am full. I wanna work along with them,” she told the Guyana Chronicle in closing.