POWERGEN’S SPECIAL CHILDREN’S FUN DAY

CSR Story

POWERGEN’S SPECIAL CHILDREN’S FUN DAY

A Celebration of Diversity and Inclusiveness

Every year, for the last 26 years, the PowerGen ground in Syne Village, Penal transforms into a kaleidoscope of colours as over 1500 colour-clad young children and teens, some with walkers, wheelchairs and walking aids and accompanied by teachers and parents, converge excitedly for a day of sheer fun and complete abandonment.

The Special Children’s Fun Day hosted by PowerGen is a major must attend annual event on the calendars of over 35 schools throughout Trinidad and Tobago whose differently-abled students participate in the popular and very competitive march past and engage in thrilling games including potato shuttle, rabbit hop, piggy-back race and the wheelchair race. Speaking about the concept of the Special Children’s Fun Day, Francois Ottley, PowerGen’s Senior Corporate Communications Specialist said the event was all about differently-abled students having a special day all to themselves. “It’s an opportunity to bring them out to experience a sports day and experience a fun day because often times, schools for the differently-abled are challenged to get funding and they would not be in a position to have their own school fun day. That was the idea behind this event,” he said.

The event began when employees of the then TTEC in Penal pooled their money and conceptualised and supported a special children’s fun day and the annual activity continued when PowerGen became their employers. PowerGen also supported the special children’s fun day at management level and soon it became a major part of the company’s CSR activities. In the 2018 fun day, a contingent of differently- abled students from Barbados participated and there are plans to invite another Caribbean country to the event in the near future.

Gail Spann from Eshe’s Learning Centre said the fun day is a major highlight for students at the school from the time they enter the PowerGen-sponsored transport bus to take them on their journey to the Penal ground. “Our children get to interact with other children with other types of learning disabilities or differences,” she said, explaining that students at Eshe’s are “cognitively delayed” and their “disabilities are hidden and they look like any ordinary primary school children.”

Spann added, “At the fun day, they are able to interact with children of different disabilities, getting to meet and greet with children from other schools and getting to appreciate and see some of the differences in people throughout Trinidad and Tobago, so it’s really good.”

Spann said although other companies engage in a myriad of activities for differently- abled students, there is a special relationship with PowerGen. “Our experience with PowerGen is different,” she said recalling on occasions when they did not deliver their information in time to be part of the fun day, the committee overseeing the event displayed a high level of understanding. “They go out of their way…everything in my opinion works well,” she added.

Marsha A.J. Williams of Point-a-Pierre Government Special School said the annual event provides them with an opportunity to meet with other special needs schools and allows students to participate in fun events that cater for their needs within their limitations. “Our students look forward to the day out to meet with friends and to take part in the events that they are able to. It is usually a fun day out. We appreciate the gesture that this company does for us each year. (They) are one of the few companies that consider our differently-abled members of society.”

New Beginnings Educational Centre which has been participating in the fun day over the last 10 years gave the annual event high ratings. Phillis Griffith said students at the centre are always excited to be part of it. “Special schools get a chance to interact and participate in an environment that they are comfortable in,” she added.

Many other schools that regularly participate in the fun day made similar remarks. “This event gives our students opportunities for showcasing their skills, socialising, self- regulation skills and most importantly, having fun,” said Lillon Ryan-Dick of Learning Is For Everyone (L.I.F.E) Centre.

Michelle Lashley-Bisram of Care Helpers Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago, “I like that all can participate and feel important. This event means our parents and their children would be able to socialise with other children and schools with special needs individuals.”

Candace Picton of Princess Elizabeth Special School, “I liked the management meeting children, giving medals to those that can’t participate.” The fun day event is eagerly looked forward to by students of the school. ”They enjoy meeting old friends as well as new. They look forward to the march past and have fun.”

Kevon Mitchell of School for Blind Children especially liked that “a medal and token is catered for every child regardless of disability or special need and also their participation in the event.” The annual event is special for the students. “Some schools have their internal sports but this is the sports day that all students look forward to.”

Like other companies, PowerGen faced budgetary constraints which challenged some of their activities but as Ottley noted, the annual fun day event was vigorously defended and justified. “Members of the Committee said it cannot be the special children funding. That shows how important this activity is to us.”

The Senior Corporate Communications Specialist said PowerGen has been achieving its objectives every year when they host the fun day for differently-abled students. The event is also heavily supported by PowerGen’s management and foreign shareholders from the United States and Japan travel to Penal to be part of the day’s activity.

PowerGen’s CSR activities are focussed on able bodied youth involved in sports and education and the company has been the proud sponsors of the Secondary School Cricket League for the past 23 years.

For the differently-abled, it’s about inclusion and raising their self-esteem. “The first time I went to the fun day, I was emotional seeing some of the students and one of the teachers told me that they (the students) don’t want pity. They want love, attention and support and it was a good learning opportunity for me,” said Ottley.

Planning for the 2019 Special Children’s Fun Day is already underway for another bumper event.Taking into consideration feedback from stakeholders on further improving the all-day event, Ottley said it’s all about expanding and improving every year for the benefit of the very special invitees.