press releases

Port of Spain, Trinidad—COVID-19 continues to direct the nation’s attention to the difficulties various segments of society are encountering, including members of the disabled community. As such, Sagicor was pleased to assist the LIFE Centre to provide education kits to students of the school, which will help support families with their at-home learning efforts.

Autism encompasses a range of neurodevelopmental behaviours and many who suffer from this disorder learn to manage their condition, however, the quality of their life is determined by how severe their symptoms are.

Dr Shara Zoe, principal of the LIFE Centre, said, “With COVID-19 hitting our shores in March 2020, we were thrown into virtual teaching and learning like many of our counterparts in education, however, remote education for students with moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder is no easy feat. Our dedicated staff rose to the challenge and have been working tirelessly to meet the needs of our students remotely. We do this through a programme that involves virtual group sessions, one-on-one teaching sessions, independent activities, therapies and co-curricular activities (yoga, music, art & craft and PE).

“We have found that the best way to meet the needs of our students is the use of virtual instruction in tandem with hands-on manipulatives. These manipulatives are prepared by our hard-working teachers and crafted to meet the needs of our students. They are assembled in packages and sent home for students to use in their sessions.”

She added that “this donation from Sagicor of materials for our packages is more than welcomed because it means we can get the resources needed to continue meeting the diverse needs of our students for another term of virtual teaching and learning. Our entire LIFE Centre family thanks Sagicor for their continued commitment to support students with autism spectrum disorder.”

Keston Howell, President and CEO, Sagicor General Insurance, said, “Our Vision statement states: ‘to be a great company committed to improving the lives of the people in the communities in which we operate’. One such community is the autistic community. Many of us understand disabilities we can see, when a person has an unseen disability, it may be more challenging for us to understand the ways in which we can help. Bringing awareness to this spectrum disorder is important, as ensuring all children receive the best possible education is close to our heart. Sagicor is proud to support the LIFE Centre family in their commitment to supporting those impacted by this disorder.”

Sagicor is also supporting the centre with its awareness T-shirts fundraiser to celebrate World Autism Day, as part of the focus for April.

Brian Dookeran, left, an agency manager in Sagicor’s San Fernando
office; Dr Shara Zoe, principal of the LIFE Centre; and agency manager
Jennifer Khan from the Camille Sinanan branch pose for a photo at the
cheque handover held at the centre’s premises in Cascade.

Jennifer Khan, right, an agency manager in the Camille Sinanan

branch based in Sagicor’s Head Office in Port of Spain, assists

a teacher at the LIFE Centre, in Cascade, to prepare education

kits for the students of the school as they participate in online

learning. Dr Shara Zoe, principal of the LIFE Centre, said,

“We have found that the best way to meet the needs of our

students is the use of virtual instruction in tandem with hands-on

manipulatives. These manipulatives are prepared by our hard-working

teachers and crafted to meet the needs of our students.”