Some 65 children in the after-school programme of Child First Foundation in the Buena Vista community will now be able to create content for television thanks to the provision of audio-visual equipment by the Sandals Foundation.

Valued at some USD $4,000, the items which include a camera, wireless microphones, a video mixer switcher, and a controller now forms part of a television studio that can in fact provide national coverage.

The programme, spearheaded by Sandals Royal Curaçao Editor, Stephen St. Jago who also stands as Managing Director at Growpicture Media Production & TalkThat says the newly acquired equipment will enhance the offerings and operations of the after-school curriculum.

“The television studio will enable the production of informative and educational programmes through a unified platform which allows for national coverage. Our programme will feature contributions from children, parents and experts exploring various social and emotional topics.”

A lifelong dream of St. Jago to reinvest in the neighbourhood in which he was raised, the studio, he explains will also help develop important life skills.

“This platform offers numerous opportunities to our children and community to stream. The children will learn how to work with the equipment, collaborate in teams, produce, shoot, and present a programme.”

The development follows the Sandals Foundation’s installation of a computer lab at Child First Foundation in 2023. Patrice Gilpin, Public Relations Manager at Sandals Foundation says the space has been a beacon of hope for many.

“Since the installation of the computer lab, students and residents in the surrounding communities have enjoyed targeted lessons to sharpen their capacity to navigate the needs of today’s highly digital world. This TV studio will only further the skills being developed within this community and we are confident that the sky is the limit,” says Gilpin.

Community development forms a key area of investment for the Sandals Foundation wherever a Sandals Resorts operates. Since opening in 2022, the foundation has supported the implementation of key school infrastructure development projects, food security initiatives, youth sports programmes, biodiversity protection and marine conservation efforts.