Contributions and Sponsorships
Supporting promising programmes.
Another way in which NGC’s CSI policy helps support the greater social, economic and developmental goals of Trinidad and Tobago is through our many contributions and sponsorships. At NGC we devote a portion of our profits to assisting local organisations, groups and teams that show a potential to have a meaningful impact at the community or national level.
NGC has invested in a wide range of programmes and organisations that we hope will benefit Trinidad and Tobago. The following are just a few examples of the areas in which we seek to make a difference through our financial assistance.
Education: At NGC we are committed to promoting national education at all levels.
Each year, our financial contributions help schools realise goals such as setting up libraries or computer labs, acquiring photocopiers or public address systems and establishing music programmes. At the tertiary level, our most recent contribution has been the signing of a MOU with the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine for a professional chair in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The initial period of assistance is for five years with an option to renew.
Outside of schools we have been sponsor training in various technical and vocational skills since the establishment of our CSI programme in 1992. Over the years, thousands have benefitted from these programmes.
One of our major educational drives is our sponsorship of the NIHERST National Science Centre which promotes scientific awareness in a fun and engaging manner. NGC has sponsored the Science Centre since its inception and continues to take part in all of its major activities, including the popular SciTechKnoFest.
Human and Social Development: NGC has given support to a variety of institutions that focus on human and social development.
Some of the beneficiaries include the Couva Children’s Home and Crisis Nursery and a National Safety Awards grant. We also provide financial assistance through Deeds of Covenant to various institutions in order to sustain their activities in the provision of social services, literacy, and education in communities throughout Trinidad and Tobago.
Arts and Culture: At NGC we believe that supporting the Arts and Culture is essential to uplifting the spirit of our nation.
Because the Arts and Culture are so important to us, we assist groups such as the Music Literacy Trust City Angels, the St. Augustine Chamber Orchestra and have been the sole sponsors of the acclaimed Lydian Singers since 1991. In addition, our financial contributions help support national festivals and competitions such as the Tobago Heritage Festival, the NGC Bocas Lit Fest, the San Fernando Junior Arts Festival (SANFEST), the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival and numerous Carnival activities.
We have also been giving an increased amount of support to the promotion of our national intstrument, the Steel Pan. For almost two decades, NGC has been giving financial assistance to an average of 40 unsponsored steelbands. In 2012 we sponsored the Pan Trinbago SteelFestTT which commemorated the country’s 50th anniversary of Independence. That year we also sponsored the NGC Couva Joylanders and the NGC La Brea Nightingales Steel Orchestras and even funded the construction of the Joylanders’ pan theatre. Our sponsorship encompasses capacity building and music literacy and creates sustainable modern organizations that can ultimately manage their own affairs, increase social capital in their communities and be good ambassadors for NGC, and, by extension, the pan fraternity.
Sport: Our involvement with sports ranges from the construction of facilities to the sponsorship of teams to the hosting of tournaments.
NGC is the mainstay of support for the Primary Schools Track and Field Games in the Moruga Zone and the St. Patrick and Caroni Districts; and co-sponsors the Track and Field Championships of the National Association of Athletics Administration (NAAA).
Although we provide an opportunity for competition, our main interest is to promote training in the field of sport. The NGC Right on Track Coaching Caravan implements a science-based, developmental programme that exposes boys and girls of 8-19 years to the skill sets needed in Track and Field and Basketball. The track and field component was sanctioned by NACAC and introduced in four countries of the eastern Caribbean.
NGC has also been highly involved in cricket. Since 2012, NGC has been a sponsor of the Trinidad and Tobago cricket team and the official T20 partner of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board and its developmental programmes. This is part of NGC’s wider objective to develop cricket at the youth club and national levels.