Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – 23 June 2026 – Students of Barataria Anglican Primary School are now better equipped to navigate the digital world safely and confidently following the opening of a new state-of-the-art technology lab funded through the Digicel Foundation’s Extraordinary Projects Impacting Communities (EPIC) programme, in partnership with Shell Trinidad and Tobago.

The newly established lab features 21 brand-new laptops, a projector, and purpose-built furniture designed to create an engaging, modern learning environment. In addition to supporting classroom instruction, the facility will host structured online safety sessions for students, parents, and teachers, helping to ensure the wider school community can use the internet responsibly and with confidence.

The project was spearheaded by the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) in support of the school’s academic and digital advancement goals.

“How do we prepare our children for a world that never logs off? The answer is simple — we must evolve alongside them. Our aim is not merely to make our students tech-literate, but tech-safe,” said Natalie Gillman-Gibbs, Principal of Barataria Anglican Primary School.

The school’s focus on creating safer online experiences closely aligns with the Digicel Foundation’s ongoing efforts to promote responsible internet use through its Safer Internet Together (SIT) programme. The initiative takes a holistic approach to digital safety by engaging not only students, but also parents and teachers, helping them better understand online risks and equipping them to guide children toward safer online behaviours.

The EPIC programme, launched in 2016, is delivered annually to support community-based organisations working to create meaningful and lasting change. In 2025, the Digicel Foundation and Shell T&T entered into a landmark three-year partnership to jointly fund the EPIC programme, representing a combined investment of TT$3.8 million. 

Now in its 10th year, EPIC has funded 170 projects across Trinidad and Tobago, advancing sustainable development and delivering positive social impact in communities nationwide. 

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About Digicel

As a Digital Operator, Digicel is in the business of delivering powerful digital experiences 1440 minutes of each day to customers – that’s every minute, all day, every day.

Through its world-class LTE and fibre networks, together with its suite of eight apps spanning sports (SportsMax), music (D’Music), news (Loop), local radio and podcasts (GoLoud), TV streaming, (PlayGo) enhanced messaging and marketplaces (BiP), cloud storage (Billo) and self-care (MyDigicel app), Digicel is the only operator in its markets that can deliver the complete digital experience.

Serving consumer and business customers in 32 markets in the Caribbean, Central America, and Pacific with investments of over US$7 billion and a commitment to communities in Haiti, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, and Trinidad & Tobago, the Digicel Foundation has contributed to positive outcomes for over three million people to date.

With its Better Together brand, Digicel is promising “simply more” to its customers and communities as the company’s 7,000 employees worldwide work together to make this pledge a powerful reality day in, day out.

For more, visit www.digicelgroup.com 

About Shell Trinidad and Tobago 

Shell has been in Trinidad and Tobago for over 100 years and has played a major role in the development of its oil and gas industry. With operations in offshore and onshore blocks (both operated and non-operated) as well as a majority shareholding in Atlantic LNG, the sixth largest liquefaction facility in the world, Shell Trinidad and Tobago delivers an integrated gas operation to supply the petrochemical market and Atlantic LNG. 

Shell Trinidad and Tobago aims to create measurable, positive social impact at the community and national level, and contribute to the achievement of national priorities, through increasing access to education, skills and economic opportunities and improving access to energy.

Our social investment strategy seeks to contribute to economic diversification and livelihood development through Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STREAM) education, community skills and enterprise development, and community development.