Book Buddies Programme

Now in its ninth year, this special distribution drive provides both primary and secondary school pupils with an array of accessories such as text books, school bags and stationery for their use in the upcoming academic year.

These items were sponsored by TSTT employees and were simultaneously presented to administrators of the respective homes – on both islands, before the new academic year commenced.

The Trinidad arm of the distribution took place at the company’s headquarters on Edward Street, Port-of-Spain while TSTT’s Tobago Operations team made their annual visit to the Family First Foundation to gift the children with their new supplies.

In addition to the Family First Foundation, the other recipient homes of this year’s bmobile Book Buddeies Programme were Bridge of Hope Children’s Home, Sophia House, CREDO Foundation for Justice, Raffa House, Islamic Children’s Home, Swaha Vishok Bhavan Home, Cyril Ross Nursery, Rainbow Rescue, Amica House, Ferndean Children’s Home, Joshua Boys and Marian House.

Spearheading the presentations at TSTT’s headquarters was TSTT’s Chief Financial Officer, Gerard Cooper, who revealed the importance of such a longstanding and progressive gesture.

“It is always heart-warming to see the passion put into this book drive by our co-workers annually.

They have directly assisted in ensuring the children of our beautiful twin-island republic have a fair chance at academic success. We now live in an age where most of our wants and needs can be achieved via the click of a button. But for some, it’s not that simple. At the bmobile Foundation, educating our nation’s youth is one of our core responsibilities. We hold our Book Buddies Programme in high regard as it helps provide pathways of success to our nation’s young people through education,” Cooper declared.

As smiling administrators and care-givers received their Homes’ school supplies, many breathed a deep sigh of relief and were grateful for the welcomed additional aid.

Dale Bartholomew, Director at CREDO Foundation for Justice (Port-of-Spain), said 15 kids at her institution benefited from the 2017 Book Buddies Programme. She also highlighted the many financial constraints that Homes have been forced to endure amidst our fluctuating and almost unpredictable economy.

“Our subventions have been getting smaller over the years and school books, especially texts, are expensive. This initiative by bmobile is a major contribution to our kids’ future and we are eternally thankful for such an important partnership,” stated Bartholomew.

Merle Hercules, Home Manager and Coordinator of the Family First Foundation, located in Calder Hall, Tobago, expressed immense gratitude for the gesture. “We feel happy that bmobile has always partnered with us over the years to assist the children at Family First. We are grateful. The last week of the term they would call and ask for the book list for the children and that is great,” she said Deborah Prabhudial, Treasurer at the Swaha Vishok Bhavan Home in Penal, shared similar sentiments. She indicated that this particular Home functions solely on donations/sponsors. According to her, educational resources are of utmost importance to the children housed there.

“We want to thank bmobile for their leadership and conducting this programme annually. Thirteen of our students, 11 girls and two boys, will be able to use these school supplies as they chart their way forward academically. This is a tremendous help for us,” said Prabhudial. Having offset hundreds of thousands of dollars in books and school supplies over the past nine years with this unique project for Children’s Homes nationwide, bmobile’s Book Buddies Programme has academically intervened in the lives of approximately 1,000 children.