Empowerment

Youth Development: In developing the youth of Trinidad and Tobago, we support educational initiatives, skills training and other programmes which promote the social development of young people, in particular those who are at risk or disadvantaged.

“Reading to Learn” Programme

NGC is a proud sponsor of the ‘Reading to Learn’ Programme in the communities of Beetham, Morvant, Laventille and Tobago. The programme is designed to improve literacy in primary schools.

NIHERST National Science Centre

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.

Police Youth Clubs

As part of promoting holistic development among the youth, NGC supports five Police Youth Clubs in Couva, Penal, La Brea, Beetham and Laventille Road. These clubs service “high risk” communities and give young residents the opportunity to study, socialise and take part in extra-curricular activities. Our support is aimed at empowering young residents by giving them access to a wide variety of uplifting activities.

YTC Multi-Purpose Sports Facility

Over the years, NGC has supported the Youth Training Centre (YTC) through financial donations. In 2012, we sponsored the refurbishment of the YTC multi-purpose Sports Facility. The refurbishment included resurfacing the gymnasium, upgrading the lighting and washroom facilities, replacing the roof and improving the ventilation. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Commissioner of Prisons, Martin Martinez, said “This is an avenue not to develop sporting prowess in the lads. This is an avenue to develop their skills, their personality, their discipline, their sense of self-esteem, to help them remain grounded and to help them remain focused.”

Skills Development and Entrepreneurship: An important aspect of promoting national development is providing the opportunities for community members to develop specialised skills. As a result, NGC has sponsored numerous programmes which provide skills training for citizens or promote small business across Trinidad and Tobago.

From the very start of NGC’s structured CSI programme in 1992, we have emphasised building community capacity through skills training. Over the years, thousands of persons have been trained in a range of skills. These skills were selected based on the needs of specific communities such as welding, building construction, boat engine repairs, process plant operations, plant maintenance and food preservation.

NGC has always included Tobago in the scope of our CSI programme. However, the recent construction of a natural gas pipeline to Tobago and the related receiving facility has brought new opportunities for us to widen the scope of our CSI programme. As a result, our recent skills training programmes have focused on that island.

Tobago Plant Maintenance Scholarship Programme

In collaboration with Metal Industries Company Limited (MIC), NGC is sponsoring the Tobago Plant Maintenance Scholarship Programme. It is a year long, full-time training programme for up to twenty Tobagonians between the ages of 17-25.

The programme will also include an apprenticeship component which provides hands-on, cutting-edge industrial and plant maintenance experience. This will prepare trainees for potential job opportunities at NGC’s Tobago Onshore Facility at the Cove Eco-Industrial Estate and Business Park at Lowlands, Tobago.  NGC will also benefit from this programme as it will create a larger applicant pool to for any plant maintenance opportunities that may arise at Cove.

Tobago Building Construction Technology (BCT) Programme

NGC has carried out two cycles of a BCT Programme in collaboration with the National Energy Skills Centre (NESC) and the Division of Education of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).

The programme was aimed at providing up to 40 Tobagonians between the ages of 17-25 years with the necessary practical and theoretical training to find and support employment in the construction sector.

Tobago Outboard Boat Engine Repairs Programmes

Together with the National Energy Skills Centre (NSEC) and the Department of Marine Resources and Fisheries, NGC sponsored two Tobago Outboard Boat Engine Repairs Programmes in Goldsborough and Buccoo. The programme targeted some 40 boat owners, sailors, fisher folk and other persons who were interested in learning the fundamentals of outboard marine engine repairs and maintenance.

Bethel Empowerment Skills Training (BEST)

The BEST agricultural programme seeks to impact the economy of Trinidad and Tobago by reviving Tobago’s local agriculture industry. It also aims to develop Tobago’s youth by fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. A one-year programme at Sherwood Park teaches short crop production to 50 trainees who will produce crops that are in demand by the hotels, restaurants and markets of Tobago. Another site in Plymouth was equipped as a processing centre for fresh seasoning, tomatoes, sweet peppers and other produce from the Sherwood Park site.  NGC and NEDCO will provide training to fill any competency gaps that may exist in the group.

Community Awareness: Because natural gas is so vital to the economy of Trinidad and Tobago, NGC believes that citizens should have an understanding of the industry. Our community awareness programmes focus on natural gas education with an emphasis on safety and the environment.

Community Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER)

NGC’s CAER programme is aimed at ensuring the safety of communities along our pipeline routes by equipping them with the necessary tools and knowledge to prevent accidents or respond to unforeseen emergencies.

Natural Gas Literacy Programme

NGC actively promotes natural gas awareness across all ages and regions of Trinidad and Tobago. The literacy programme specifically targets students from the primary to tertiary level across Trinidad and Tobago. The programme is also aimed at raising natural gas awareness among the Tobagonian public as NGC is a relative newcomer to the Tobagonian market.