New Point Fortin Media Lab Equips South's Youth with Ai and Creative Skills

EPIC

epic grantee and others celebrate opening of lab in Point fortin

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – 15 July 2026 -- As artificial intelligence reshapes the jobs of the future, The Sapphire Miriam Foundation is ensuring that the youth in South Trinidad are not left behind. The organisation recently launched the Sapphire Miriam Media Lab and Holistic After-School Centre, after securing a TT$100,000 through the Extraordinary Projects Impacting Communities (EPIC) grant programme, funded by the Digicel Foundation in partnership with Shell Trinidad and Tobago.

The EPIC grant transformed their Pt Fortin facility into a community learning hub complete with high-performance computers, a music production studio, and podcasting and content creation equipment. The centre offers a range of age-appropriate programmes for ages five and up, designed to prepare young people for the future of work.

The Media Lab was created to address what Sapphire Miriam Founder Simone Claxton believes is a growing gap in opportunities for young people in South Trinidad.  

"Young people in South deserve the same opportunities to prepare for the future as anyone else," said Claxton. "Technology is changing everything, and we have to equip our young people with the skills that make them adaptable, creative and marketable. This Media Lab is about giving our young people access to opportunities they may never even have imagined, while helping them build confidence, creativity and practical skills.”

Sapphire Miriam has adopted a "Learn and Earn" model, with participants eventually joining a pool of young freelancers providing podcast production, videography, digital content and other creative services to businesses and organisations, creating a pathway from learning to income generation.

The music production studio has already generated strong interest among young people in the community, providing aspiring musicians and producers with access to professional equipment that would otherwise be out of reach.

Launched in 2016, the Digicel Foundation's EPIC programme supports community organisations delivering practical, sustainable solutions to the challenges facing their communities. Now celebrating its 10th year, EPIC has funded 170 projects across Trinidad and Tobago.