Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – 07 July 2026 – The moment that changed everything for teacher Shanna Dindial came when three young men from her Fyzabad community — boys who had once called her “Aunty” — were arrested for murder.

For Dindial, it was a stark reminder of what can happen when children grow up without the educational support, guidance and positive influences they need. Seeing many students struggling to keep up at school while their families could not afford extra lessons, she resolved to do something that could change their path. 

What began as offering lessons in an old shed in 2022, has grown into Shanna’s El Roi Community Homework Centre on John Jules Trace in Fyzabad. 

Partnering with Andre Barnard, Founder and Club Administrator of Fyzabad United Football Club, who had witnessed many of the same challenges through youth football, the pair successfully secured TT$100,000 in grant funding from the Digicel Foundation’s Extraordinary Projects Impacting Communities (EPIC) programme, delivered in partnership with Shell Trinidad and Tobago.

The EPIC grant enabled the transformation of a 20-by-10-foot prefabricated container into a fully equipped, solar-powered learning space that provides vacation and after-school academic support, supervision and mentorship for children and families across Fyzabad. 

“Growing up in poverty, I made a decision—by God’s grace—that my circumstances would not define my future,” shared Dindial. “I promised God, El Roi, that if I became a teacher, I would support children who were once in my position, children who needed guidance, encouragement and someone to believe in them.” 

Although the school term has ended, the centre remains active with July/August (JAVA) vacation camps offered at a nominal cost, ensuring children continue learning in a safe and supportive environment. 

The centre is open for registration of children ages five and up for both its vacation camps and after-school programme. Led by certified teachers, the programmes combine academics, sport and the arts to support children’s holistic development. The JAVA camp includes football, tennis, music, dance and agriculture activities. 

More importantly, Dindial says the centre offers parents something every family wants: confidence that their children are spending their time in a safe environment surrounded by positive role models.

“This homework centre exists to ensure that children receive the academic, emotional and moral support they need,” she said. “Beyond academics, we emphasise values such as respect, cooperation and responsibility because we want our children to grow into confident, compassionate and responsible citizens.”

Launched in 2016, the Digicel Foundation’s EPIC programme supports community organisations delivering practical, sustainable solutions to the challenges facing their communities. Now celebrating its 10th year, EPIC has funded 170 projects across Trinidad and Tobago, empowering community leaders like Shanna Dindial and Andre Barnard to transform compassion into action and create opportunities that can change lives for generations to come.

ENDS

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.