There’s an old Trini adage that says, “Is who live in the house know where it leaking”. A quick translation in the PowerGen context means, “Those who live in a community would best know its needs.”
This is why PowerGen’s CSR principles of employee volunteerism creates relevance for its communities and creates a deep sense of commitment to the company and its values. The company encourages its employees to identify projects and programmes in their own communities to improve and enhance lives.
From building and maintaining a much needed bus shed for residents of Cedros, to repairing the ceiling of a home for autistic children in Tunapuna, possible projects and programmes all over the country are submitted for consideration and special funding. Employees both select and direct which projects will get the nod each year.
PowerGen has a CSR committee composed of 10-12 employees who meet formally once a month to review and decide on proposals presented by their colleagues. A needs analysis is then carried out and a site visit undertaken to verify information submitted before any disbursements are made.
It is this kind of employee initiative that has guided the formation of the PowerGen Penal Table Tennis Club. Sookdeo Tankoo, the club’s current manager is based at the Penal plant and shares his story.
Tankoo takes on table tennis
Somewhere around 2005/2006, former national table tennis player Billy Abdool, who lives in the community, approached a member of the Penal Sports Club committee through a family member, for permission to use the PowerGen Sports Club’s facilities for table tennis training. Together with Billy were Selwyn Singh a former National and Caribbean Champion, Bob Roopnarine who is currently the honorary Secretary of the Caribbean Table Tennis Federation, and Technical Director, and whose son Arun Roopnarine is currently a highly ranked player.
A proposal was submitted to the club’s Management Committee, which immediately gave approval for use of the facilities, as it made sense to expand to activities beyond the traditional cricket. The decision also meant increased community participation and encouraged youth development.
Tankoo was appointed to work with these players and to formulate a plan to establish a team. A committee was set up to run the affairs of table tennis.
Some of the club’s achievements include being able to attract and train many players who are now A1 players, and participate in all national tournaments. These include Catherine Spicer, a member of the National table tennis team and ranked #3 of the country’s female players. Brothers Sarvesh and Amresh Mungal are ranked in the top ten, Uzair Omerdeen represented the country at Caribbean U15, Sarvesh represented the country at Cadet and Junior. The club is proud to have won the A2 Team tournament held in 2014/2015. A profile of Catherine Spicer appears on this page. Tankoo is proud that PowerGen was able to contribute to this success.
In 2016 in an effort to ensure continuity and to encourage more youths to get involved in sports, a coaching programme was established and 12 young children are currently benefiting from these free training sessions which are held on Sundays from 2pm.
Tankoo says, “I have a natural love for sports and seeing young people make positive steps in life. Sports is a way of combatting idleness and keeping kids away from some of the harmful things going on in the society.” Tankoo is happy to seize the opportunity to catch the youth before they go astray and groom them to develop their talents and to “steer them in the right direction.”
Asked about why he volunteers he says “It’s not about the “thanks” for what you are doing; actually it’s a privilege just to be able to do something for my community.”
Tankoo is also among the many PowerGen employees who distribute vouchers for books and school supplies to less fortunate families and deliver annual Christmas Hampers.
Investing in talent
PowerGen’s volunteerism efforts are paying big dividends. Its contribution in cricket is well documented. But here, throughout the community, very quietly, new heroes are being forged.
Catherine Simone Spicer was the first Trinidadian to win a medal at a World Junior Circuit Event in 2009 when she earned two bronze medals in Canada. At the time she was unbeaten in all National Ranking Tournaments in the Girls under 15 and under 18 Singles, and had won the Caribbean Senior Team Gold in French Guyana for the second year in a row plus bronze in the U21 Singles. She had also been named FCB Junior nominee for table tennis in that same year.
Since then, among her many accomplishments, Catherine Spicer, now just 20 years old, has represented the country at the Youth Olympic Qualifier in El Salvador and Venezuela; earned the title of first WJC Singles Medal – Cadet Bronze in Venezuela; was the highest ranking Cadet at the International Table Tennis Federation and ranked #1 Female in three categories U15, U18 and Women in 2010. Among her many annual nominee awards locally with PowerGen and First Citizens Bank, she has also won Cadet Gold at The World Junior Circuit Teams in Guatemala and at the World Junior Circuit Doubles in El Salvador teaming up with Mexico to play Hong Kong in the finals.
Her athletic prowess is well matched by her academic acumen. In 2011 she completed nine CSEC O’Level subjects including eight Grade 1 awards. She later went on to secure eight subjects at CAPE A’Level – six at Grade 1 and two at Grade 2. She has since completed her BSc in Economics from UWI.
Between 2012 and 2015, Spicer has made further strides in her sporting career. Among her recent achievements is that of being a member of the women’s National Elite team which placed third in (Division 4) which translated to 75th overall, in the world, at the LIBRERR World Team Championships held in Dortmund, Germany 2012. This is the third highest spot that was possible for Trinidad and Tobago having not entered this competition for 20 years. This result may lead to promotion to Division 3, where they would now be able to vie for a higher spot of 48th to 72nd overall at the next World Team Championships held every two years.
Under 18 junior National Singles Champion for third year in a row. Spicer is also the holder of a Junior Caribbean Gold medal in mixed doubles Bronze in junior singles; Silver bowl 2nd U21 Girls Singles; has won the National Championships U21 Girls Singles; represented Trinidad and Tobago at the Common Wealth Games 2014 in Glasgow Scotland; successfully represented Trinidad and Tobago at the CAC qualifier in El Salvador; and represented Trinidad and Tobago at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Mexico.
Spicer medaled bronze at the Martinique Caribbean Games 2015 and retained U21 National Singles Title and Mixed Doubles Title. Selected to represent Trinidad & Tobago at the Commonwealth Table Tennis India and won the women’s and under 21 titles in the Tobago Open Championships in that same year.
Samaroo supports schools
Samson Samaroo is based in the Point Lisas plant and is the CSR Committee Coordinator for the Point Lisas area. He mainly coordinates the primary school donations on behalf of PowerGen, working with schools all over the country regardless of denomination or geographical location.
Samaroo and other employees who support the programme, distribute vouchers for school books and bags – targeting children from several schools including the Cedros Government Primary, the San Juan Presbyterian, and a range of other primary schools. The process for selection is again an inclusive employee approach. Employees serve as scouts to assess and identify needy families. After site visit verification, the names of recommended families are submitted to the committee assigned to prioritize and select.
So why does he volunteer in his spare time? Samaroo admits to coming from very humble beginnings and reflects on his growing years in Cedros. When he joined PowerGen he felt he could leverage the company’s Employee Engagement Programme, to get things done in communities that needed help.
He realizes that with the hectic schedules of most people a lot is not done so he just does what he can, knowing there is no fame or fortune to be derived. “Whatever it is you do, whether it is the Christmas hampers or vouchers, you just see the happiness and appreciation of the people on their faces and you feel you have helped make life a little better for them.”
PowerGen’s annual Community Children’s Christmas treat is a major part of the employee volunteerism effort which was introduced in the same year the company commenced operations over 20 years ago. The treat reaches over 200 children between the ages of 5 – 12 years of age and is held annually at the FunStation in Gulf City. The children are transported there and hosted for the day starting with breakfast at 9 am.
The event is a major annual highlight for the PowerGen family. Every year different primary schools are selected to ensure that every school benefits. The principals from each school select about 12 children who are in need. Employees also help to identify children from families within their communities who may qualify for assistance.
The recommendations from the employees are also submitted to PowerGen’s Community Relations Committee which considers the recommendations at their monthly meetings.
Kari Singh is based in Penal and shared his own experience of how less fortunate children are sometimes identified. He cited an example of driving to work daily and seeing two small children making their way to school, a long arduous journey on foot. He got involved, visited their one-room home and submitted their family as one in need of support and included the children in the Christmas treat.
Although PowerGen has reduced its plant operations with the closure of the Port of Spain power station last year, the volunteer spirit of its employees from the Penal and Point Lisas locations prevails.
PowerGen employees believe that they can make a difference one life at a time, one community at a time and from this will flow a better quality of life for all of Trinidad and Tobago. Volunteering can make the country a better place for all through united effort.