Staff volunteers of bmobile, brought added Christmas cheer to the children of Hope Centre Children's Home in San Fernando.

The youngsters were gifted with an exciting morning of fun and games at Chuck E. Cheese’s in Brentwood Town Centre, Chaguanas and returned to a festively decorated home, housed with a gift-bearing, emerald green-suited Santa Claus.

On hand to help Santa deliver gifts was Trinidad and Tobago’s two-time Olympic medallist and bmobile ambassador, Keshorn Walcott. The children and staff of Hope Centre also took time out to shake a leg to the sounds of sweet parang from Tabaquite-based group, Los Ninos de Subero.

This initiative was another collaborative effort between long standing partners bmobile and United Way Trinidad and Tobago (UWTT) - a social impact organisation striving to bring people together to help protect vulnerable communities. Both organisations have been actively involved in assisting, giving back and directly investing in the development of the nation’s youth long before they embarked on their 15-year partnership.

Anjanie Ramesar-Soom of bmobile’s Corporate, Environmental, Social & Reputation Management team said the company remains committed to helping nurture the minds of the nation’s future thinkers and leaders.
“We must keep children inspired and always make them feel loved. Initiatives like these bring immeasurable joy to them, especially during the Christmas season,” Ramesar-Soom said. “At bmobile, we find great fulfilment in bringing cheer and smiles to their faces. These interactions will last a lifetime. Even as adults, the Christmas spirit makes us become a child again inside.”

Allison Alexander-John, acting Senior Manager, Marketing and Promotions was also on hand supporting the day’s festivities. She noted that, “the children’s gifts, grocery hampers and parang celebration were all part of the "bmobile Christmost" campaign. The campaign exemplifies bmobile’s commitment to not only providing exceptional products and services but also to making a positive impact on the communities we serve. We believe that fostering a sense of community and giving back is an integral part of our corporate identity.”

United Way’s Community Investment Manager Lisa Ramsumir was happy to once again team up with bmobile to spread Christmas cheer at Hope Centre. “Initiatives like this remind the children that they are not forgotten. While they may be living in a children’s residence, there are people thinking of them, we value them, and they are the future. So, we hope that initiatives like this continue and that the children remember it for the rest of their lives,” Ramsumair said.

Hope Centre Manager Lisa Ramkissoon said it was a “heartwarming” gesture. While she was elated to see the children gleefully unwrap their presents, Ramkissoon believes the social interactions from the staff volunteers at Chuck E. Cheese’s and back at home, will be forever etched in their minds.

She said, “it means a lot for a company to take an entire day to help with the kids, spend time with them, because these children need that one-on-one interaction more than ever. We appreciate all the gifts and toys but more than that, they need interaction with people, to be able to learn to communicate with people, express themselves. We appreciate the good examples who come to spend time with them.”
Ramkissoon said plans are underway to set up a mentorship programme at the centre as they continue to find new avenues to help the children improve their all-round abilities and understanding.

One bmobile volunteer, Nicole Ferreira, who joined the group at Chuck E. Cheese’s for hours of games and lunch, was buoyed by the opportunity to spread holiday delight with the kids. They were also joined by some of the home’s caregivers. “You could see them trying to contain the excitement as they got in. But once they got in and realised that this was their day and got their electronic cards to go and play their games, it was all excitement.”

Double-Olympic medallist Keshorn Walcott has also been an active part of bmobile’s work at children’s homes over the years and played an active part in distributing the gifts.