Pinelands Helped Me Realize My Potential

Thirty-two-year-old Nico Beckles is a testimony of the way in which a Non-Governmental Organization can play a substantial role in the development of a child.

Beckles who was a tutor at the Pinelands Creative Workshop (PCW) and an Information Technology Officer at Harrison’s Cave explained that after leaving St Michael’s School with three certificates he was advised by the now CEO Of Pinelands Creative Workshop Sophia Greaves-Broome to attend some courses which would lead to his passion for computers.

“When I left St Michael Secondary School, I had three CXC’s. A week later the now CEO of Pinelands Creative Workshop Sophia Greaves-Broome contacted me and told me to come and sign up for a programme they were offering at Pinelands Creative Workshop. I signed up for the Microsoft Courses and I went and aced the Office Specialist Programme. After which Sophia would contact me about any programme that they were offering, and I would attend the sessions. I now have training in about 12 industries,” he said.

The Information Technology professional said that in his years being involved with the charitable organization he has only spent $100BDS to pay for a final examination, all of the training that he has received through the organization has been free of cost.

“The best thing about Pinelands is in the 28-years that I have been around the establishment the most I have paid is $100 for the Microsoft Certificate. All of the opportunities Pinelands gave us free of cost and that is why anytime that Sophia or Pinelands calls and ask for my expertise in any way I am always willing to help because I know I can never repay them for how they transformed my life,” he said.

Beckles said that over the years Pinelands Creative Workshop became an extended family to him. He recounted an experience where he thought that he was attending a workshop in Barbados but later realized that his workshop was in Trinidad and Tobago when he received his ticket and itinerary in the mail.

The IT Professional said that one of the things that Pinelands Creative Workshop taught him was critical thinking.

“The best thing that Pinelands Creative Workshop teaches you- I say teach you because they do not spoon feed you is critical thinking as you can only go so far with book sense. Pinelands helps you by teaching you Common Sense so you can know how to utilize what you learned and that has significantly helped me. From the training, I was sent to plus the schooling at Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology which PCW assisted me with getting into because I had some challenges getting into my programme of study. Now, I can look at any board with a chip and figure out how to fix it in 30 minutes,” he said.

Beckles who since leaving the St Michael School now holds a Certificate from the Samuel Jackman Institute of Technology in Sound Engineering said that growing up in Regent Hill in the Pine, St Michael area recounted an experience where he thought that he was attending a workshop in Barbados but later realized that his workshop was in Trinidad and Tobago when he received his ticket and itinerary in the mail.

“The first time I ever travelled I travelled for free through Pinelands. The first trip Sophia tricked me into it. She told me that I had a leadership seminar at The University Of The West Indies and when the person called and sent the itinerary, she told me that it was The University Of The West Indies but in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said while laughing.

Pinelands Creative Workshop is celebrating 44 years of establishment on the 28th February 2022 and Nico said that he is a testimony of the good work the organization is doing to inspire members of the youth who like him did not come from a community conducive to learning but who through the love and care of the organization were able to excel.

“As I said earlier, I left St Michael’s School with three CXC’s and fast forward fourteen years later I have multiple certificates, qualifications and experience in various fields and that is due to Pinelands Creative Workshop. A little boy from Regent Hill, Pine, St Michael an area that is close to a popular block, was able to grab the opportunities provided by Pinelands and make a betterment for himself. I encourage anyone who is young and determined to succeed by lack the know-how to contact Pinelands Creative Workshop as they would be able to assist you in becoming a respectable young man or woman no matter your circumstance,” he said. (Write Right PR Services)