Dear Editor: Why T&T should aid WenTen’s support of UTT’s sport students

The following is a release from Dr Karen Lawrence-Ince, director of The WenTen Foundation and Assistant Professor of CfKPES, UTT:

Each year, the Centre for Kinesiology Physical Education and Sport (CfKPES) at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) graduates scores of students with Bachelor’s degrees, along with several more split between the Certificate and Masters levels. A small but dedicated staff of professionals, comprising 16 instructors and administrators are tasked with the responsibility to produce professional candidates for the world of work.

The Centre’s intake for 2025-2026 comprised 80 Certificate students, 90 Bachelors and 8 Masters students (our largest enrolment since 2019), with indicators suggesting a further increase in enrolment for 2026-2027.

UTT student athletes.
(via UTT.)

Most students are able to access a 75% GATE funding. However, with rising unemployment levels and the high incidence of female-headed single parent homes, students experience significant financial challenges in spite of GATE, particularly those who commute from distant regions of our country.


Our department as such, is often pressed into a deeper pastoral role to provide much needed assistance to our charges.

The WenTen Foundation, a registered non-profit charitable organisation, was created to assist in this regard. Its aim is to provide financial and other assistance to students in need. Financial assistance takes the form of completion grants and partial scholarships.

UTT student athletes celebrate at a sports day.
(via UTT.)

Since its inception in 2023, the Foundation has awarded seven completion grants and two partial scholarships to deserving beneficiaries. This year, in an attempt to do more, the Foundation is hosting an Artisan Community Market and Family Fun Day on Saturday 23rd May at the UTT Campus, San Fernando.

The goal of this charity event is to generate sufficient funds to award four completion grants and two partial scholarships to deserving students in our 2026 Annual Awards Ceremony.

The pubic is hereby invited to partner with us in this charity event, which will not only provide assistance to students, but will additionally forge valuable community connections between the university and its immediate environs.

The event moreover supports the efforts of scores of small business persons, who use these pop-up type activities to create income and forge partnerships for economic mobility.

All are welcome – admission is free!!

More from Wired868
Dear Editor: TTFA exec must prove constitutional amendments strengthen T&T football; not just its hold on power

“[…] The obvious question is: What has changed since 2024 to make another significant constitutional restructuring necessary? […] The TTFA’s Read more

Dear Editor: Are TTFA’s proposed Statute changes about electoral reform, or redistribution of political power?

“[…] Under the proposed TTFA Statutes amendments, clubs would lose 21 votes, reducing their combined allocation from 36 to 15—a Read more

Subway to Glory: Forget Serpentine Road, Lewis St, etc; football at Fyzabad is a sight to behold!

“[…] Where else would you find U14 and U16 games playing at 10am on a workday, attracting 200 to 300 Read more

Dear Editor: On what grounds is Romain still supervising minors? And what does that say about Safeguarding process?

“[…] Mr Gary St Rose himself acknowledges that the investigations are not complete. So what exactly formed the basis of Read more

Dear Editor: The Summit’s blind spots—TTFA presents ambitious vision; but where is the accountability?

“[…] A strategic plan should not simply articulate where an organisation hopes to be in four years. It should clearly Read more

Dear Editor: TTFA Safeguarding Dept can use stakeholder concerns to strengthen its operations

“[…] The TTFA could work with clubs, academies, parents and relevant child-protection stakeholders to review its youth-team travel standards and Read more

Check Also

Dear Editor: Here’s the problem with Devant Maharaj’s support for US sanctions on Cuba

“[…] Mr Devant Maharaj argues that critics of that vote treat a dictatorship as a …

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.