IGT SPONSORS CARNIVAL ACTIVITIES AT THE COTTON TREE FOUNDATION
Steelpan and Stories at Preschool Carnival
Preschool pan enthusiasts take turns on the steelpan under the watchful gaze of IGT P&T Regional Senior Manager for the Caribbean, Shavindra Tewarie-Singh, and Cotton Tree Foundation Executive Director Sita Persad (on the left).
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO—FEBRUARY 28, 2025—On February 19, International Game Technology (“IGT”), a global leader in gaming, proudly partnered with The Cotton Tree Foundation to host a vibrant Carnival-themed event for children ages three to five. Through storytelling and steelpan, the 17 preschoolers explored their culture while building imagination and literacy skills.
IGT P&T Regional Senior Manager for the Caribbean, Shavindra Tewarie-Singh, joins the Cotton Tree Foundation preschoolers as they clap and sing along to soca tunes played on the steelpan by Chavez Benjamin.
IGT P&T Regional Senior Manager for the Caribbean, Shavindra Tewarie-Singh, led an interactive read-aloud from Boy Boy and the Magic Drum by Machel Montano with musical accompaniment from Chavez Benjamin on the steelpan. After the reading, the children enjoyed time on the pan and other hands-on activities for a full immersion in the national instrument. This year’s theme at the Cotton Tree Foundation Preschool is ‘celebrating the cultures of Trinidad and Tobago’, and this IGT-sponsored activity tied into the school’s Carnival celebrations.
IGT P&T Regional Senior Manager for the Caribbean, Shavindra Tewarie-Singh, leads the Carnival storytelling at the Cotton Tree Foundation in St. Anns.
The Cotton Tree Foundation is a non-profit community organisation dedicated to improving lives through education and is one of 18 IGT After School Advantage (ASA) Centres in Trinidad and Tobago. As part of IGT’s ongoing commitment to supporting its global communities, the ASA programme aims to continually enhance the technological awareness of youth and create learning opportunities that help them develop the knowledge and skills for the jobs of tomorrow.
The team organising the steelpan, stories and colouring time for Cotton Tree Foundation’s Preschool Carnival. Back row, left to right: Leslie Ann Baxam – IGT Draw Lead, Chavez Benjamin – Cotton Tree Foundation Steelpan Tutor, Tanya Singh – IGT Global People Services Representative, Sita Persad – Cotton Tree Foundation Executive Director, Chelsea Alleyne – IGT Administrative Assistant, and, in the front, Shavindra Tewarie-Singh – IGT P&T Regional Senior Manager, Caribbean.
These children explore musical notes through colouring sheets prepared by IGT for the Carnival activities at Cotton Tree Foundation in St. Anns.
All smiles after a successful morning! Cotton Tree Foundation preschoolers and staff pose for a group photo with IGT P&T Regional Senior Manager for the Caribbean Shavindra Tewarie-Singh.
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About IGT’s After School Advantage Programme:
As part of IGT’s Sustainable Play™ initiatives, After School Advantage (ASA) is the company’s flagship community initiative, devoted to providing youth with access to technology at digital learning centers in communities where IGT operates. The program ensures students have access to participate in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) educational opportunities while developing the knowledge and skills for the jobs of tomorrow. Since 2011, IGT and its subsidiaries have opened 39 ASA computer labs across the English-speaking Caribbean. As part of the Company’s ongoing commitment to supporting its global communities, IGT aims to continually enhance the technological awareness of students and prepare them to contribute to the social and infrastructural development of the Caribbean.