If you travel the Philip Goldson Highway regularly, you may have caught a glimpse here and there of the compound of the Tubal Trade and Vocational Institute, located at Mile 10 and three-quarters.
Back in 2001, The Tubal opened doors and began accepting students as a second chance program to provide young people who behavioral or scholastic challenges. In the 21 years of its existence, Tubal has graduated over 500 productive citizens who their previous schools initially wrote off. Many of those students were at-risk youths who needed an outlet but who had no other alternative.
Those struggling students become enrolled at Tubal, where they were trained in vocational skills to build their own careers. They were provided with entry-level job skills to pursue and retain gainful employment.
The over two decades of operation for the management of Tubal were challenging due to financial constraints. But the founding members and the staff persevered to the point where the school celebrated its 21st anniversary today.
Our news team stopped by, and we spoke with one of the institution's founders. Here's what he told us:
Daniel Ortiz
"Did you think you were going to make it this far when you and your wife first brainstormed the idea to create a trade school to teach young folks vocational skills?"
Lyndon Joseph Bailey - Founding Director, Tubal Trade School
"Yes, I believe [in] this school, and I know that that I was going to make it because God was in this school. We didn't have any money, but we prayed, and the Lord opened doors for us. The first year, we started out with nine students, and then it increased. It went on for a month, and then everybody got to know what Tubal is all about. We then had 150 students. Then, the government came in under the Said Musa Administration and Ralph Fonseca. They came in, and they sponsored us for 30 students from the Southside. We always believe that the only person who could change a person is the Holy Spirit through God. And we know that, yes, the children used to give us trouble. But we pray over them and share the Bible with them. Eventually, they change their lives, and they see the light. Some of them have gone through the program, and some of them right now have their own companies. Some of them, we placed back into BDF. Some of them went into the police force all over. So, we know that things are working here at Tubal. These are students that the regular schools have thrown out - yeah, written off. So, we take them in, and we renew their spirit. And so, when they see us on the highway or in Downtown Belize, they greet us and show us their appreciation."
Currently, there are 110 students enrolled at Tubal.
