NY-based electrical engineer educating children with one laptop at a time

When New York-based electrical engineer, Ryan Belgrave began a laptop and electronic tablet giveaway to the indigent population in his homeland of Guyana, he never imagined his kind gesture would blossom to reach hundreds of children across the Republic.

Belgrave, who immigrated to the United States in 2005, told Caribbean Life, due to the coronavirus pandemic that caused schools to adopt virtual learning, further putting a financial burden on families, he decided to increase his humanitarian effort to meet the needs of many more children.

Belgrave, who is also an air conditioning engineer with Petroleum Gas Company, made a combined vacation and distribution trip recently to his homeland, and delivered 25 laptops and cell phones to families in need, noting, while working hard in the snow covered streets, and stormy weather in dangerous underground conditions, his heart and thoughts are always fixated on the many kids he wants to help.

“I’m not looking for favors, I’m just doing what I have to do. I went home and shared out 25 laptops and a few cellphones to children and families who are in need. I’m thankful for the friend that helped me to pull this off,” he said.

The electronic that will be a great help in educating students is the hallmark of Belgrave’s commitment to giving, as he instills in students, the importance of learning.

The donor, who added ‘blessingz’ to his name, to show that he is fortunate to have more than enough so that he can share with others, is in the process of accumulating 50 laptops and other tools for online schooling to be distributed during a two-week period at the end of the year.

In 2018, he partnered with the Ministry of Education to reach students in the public schools but has since gone into communities to reach families directly.

The next pop-up handout initiative will take place across Guyana in underprivileged communities, he said, any of the government pay any attention to, when it comes to improving the lives of the lower class of people in Guyana.

This is why he is motivated to do his part to fill that gap, adding that others should feel pleased to do the same.

He tells students to focus on education, and encourage them “to hang-in there, and keep the faith, help is coming, if not from me, from someone else.”

However, he warns parents against accepting any of the laptops if one is already in the home. He said they should be honest, so that someone else in need could be gifted the learning tool.

By the end of the year, the total number of laptops distributed will total 250, since he began his benevolent program with the help of deceased friend Mondale Smith, who had encouraged him to make the humanitarian gesture public for transparency, while helping the less fortunate, and encouraging others to give.

The price tag is in the thousands since each fully equipped computer retails for $175.00. Belgrave is hopeful that his charitable outreach, which also includes musical instruments and medical equipment, donated to elder homes, will continue for many years to come.