North Campus Professor Refurbishes Computers For Kids In Belize

Renowned Belizean sculptor George Seymour Gabb, whose most famous artwork—The Sleeping Giant—was featured on his country’s $100 bill, believed in helping his community. 

Gabb, who had a passion for educating children about art, often allowed homeless kids to use his studio to create and sell their work.

That generosity stuck with his son George Michael Gabb.

More than a decade after his father’s death, Gabb started Digital Tribe, a foundation that refurbishes computers to help Belize’s impoverished communities. The non-profit has renewed more than 40 computers.

This summer, the computer science professor at North Campus shipped the electronics to an orphanage and two local schools in Belize. Next year, he plans to extend the program to include 10 additional schools.

“We wanted to inspire the youth of Belize to choose STEM careers,” Gabb said. 

And the project will continue to expand. North Campus will offer a six-week study abroad course next summer to support the program. Their goal is to repurpose 100 computers.

The desktop computers will be renovated by students in four computer support courses offered at Miami Dade College this spring. In summer A, a contingent of students will take the machines to Belize. The group will be there for five weeks to set up the equipment. 

Anthony Lee, a computer science professor at North Campus, will be charged with helping the  students fix the computers. They are expected to gain experience working with other cultures and a deeper appreciation for service learning.  

After the computers go online in Belize, students will have access to code.org, a site teaches kids coding without a teacher’s assistance.

“This is going to be a great joint effort between Miami Dade College, led by Dr. George Gabb and persons or organizations there in Belize, that’s going to build a great long-term relationship that will allow students there to have our technology,” Lee said. 

Gabb, who has visited Belize four times in the past decade, has a vested interest in the initiative. The 54-year-old was born in Belize and moved to the United States when he was 17 to pursue an education.

In the late 80s, he earned an associates degree from Broward College. He eventually added a bachelor’s in psychology, a master’s in computer information and a law degree, all from Nova Southeastern University. 

By 1998, Gabb was tabbed as chairperson of the North Campus EnTec Department, a position he held until 2013. He has been a computer information systems professor for the past nine years.

Gabb hopes the study abroad project to Belize blazes a path for more cultural exchange opportunities.

“This project brings exposure and experience and learning opportunities, both academically and socially, for MDC students,” Gabb said. 

To find out more about the study abroad project to Belize, contact George Gabb at ggabb@mdc.edu

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