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Delivering Events With Purpose, Soca’s Shurwayne Winchester Partners With Schools for Better.

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Trinidad and Tobago artiste, Shurwayne Winchester has revealed that over the past couple years he’s been hosting events alongside schools partnered with, with proceeds going towards bettering the environments students enjoy.

A few years ago, the artiste says he visited a school for the usual interaction with students. His talk started as it typically did, with him explaining to the students that the institution passed for, shouldn’t determine their success. He encouraged the youths to focus on the work and be committed to succeeding on their journey. “One of the students at this particular school was straight. He looked at me and in not so many words, he said there was nothing at the institution to be encouraged by.” 

The teenager argued that as students of that particular school, they felt ‘less than’ as compared to students of other schools where there were better resources for learning. Shurwayne said he left the school that day, awakened to the reality that’s felt by many youths in Trinidad and Tobago. “That day, those students told me they felt forgotten because while some schools had comfort, they didn’t. I knew I had to do something to change that,” he said. 

An idea, born from the bosom of one young man’s honesty, has since positively impacted two schools in Trinidad. “I had done events to help schools raise funds before, but not like this. I wanted to do something where I could be directly involved. I didn’t want the funds to be redirected if placed directly in the schools’ hands. I really wanted to help,” said the artiste. With that his mission, Shurwayne first approached St. Xavier’s and partnering with the school’s principal, his team at SW Limited hosted The Vineyard with all proceeds aiding the school’s infrastructural needs. “The template is basic. I ask the school what they need. I then get a quotation from a registered contractor for the project and SW Limited builds an event, investing 100% of the finances. The school and the parents are responsible for pushing out the tickets. That’s the only thing we ask of them,” he said, emphasizing the importance of parents’ involvement. “You must have an active and involved group of parents who really want to see that change for their children. We then take away the headache of delivering the show and overseeing the school project’s completion. Everything is documented for complete transparency and accountability.” 

Shurwayne says his heart is extremely full, knowing that this initiative is helping others to see their full potential. “My mom and dad always said, “use the gifts you have and give back,”” he recalled, pondering the humble teachings of his parents who passed away earlier this year. In November, a third school will benefit from this initiative. Shurwayne says the overall goal is to raise funds to help other schools that may not be in a position to get the assistance of sponsors. “We’re willing to work with any school that’s willing to agree to the template we’ve created. We’ve built Team A+ under the SW Limited banner, and we’re now moving from school to school. Interested schools can email SW Limited at swlimited@gmail.com with details about their school and what they’d like to have addressed,” said the artiste. 

Extending his gratitude to fellow artistes and musicians, suppliers and others who have shown their support for the effort, Shurwayne says he is extremely thankful to everyone who’s made a difference in the lives of the children, whether directly or indirectly. “I believe I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing because as an entertainer, these people give their support to us in a way that I can’t even thank them enough for. Many of the parents have supported me over many years so if I can now support their children in this way, I’m here to do it. I’m not doing for the school. The school is doing for me, because the school allows me to remind myself of what my responsibility is to my country, my fanbase and the responsibility of carrying on my parents’ names – Codrington and Linda Winchester. I want to do great things and everything I do has to be great,” he said.  

 ‘Just The Two of Us’ is yet another event created to fulfill the needs of students. It will be hosted in January 2026 with Team A + promising an enjoyable experience for all who attend. This week, Shurwayne and his team will give insight into two of the completed projects. “We’ll be showing the full scope of the projects – from planning to completion, on my YouTube channel. Anyone who’s interested in getting involved, whether directly or indirectly can take a look at what we’ve committed to and reach out. As one nation we can do great things. All it takes is love and commitment.” 

Be The Change

Dwayne Bravo Foundation Charity Golf Tournament Returns for Year Two, With Team Wilco Taking Back-to-Back Victory.

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The Dwayne Bravo Foundation Charity Golf Tournament returned to St. Andrews Golf Club, Moka, Maraval in Trinidad on Monday for its second year, bringing together some of Trinidad and Tobago’s biggest names in sport, corporate T&T and a new generation of golfers for a day of competition, camaraderie and giving back.

When the final putt dropped, it was a familiar trio at the top of the leaderboard.

Team Wilco, comprising Liam Bryden, Ryan Gomez and Willie Medford, successfully defended the tournament title, becoming back-to-back champions after taking the inaugural title in 2025 as Team MRI. The three players returned this year as Team Wilco, proving that their winning combination remains intact.

The tournament was hosted by Dwayne Bravo, head coach of the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) and former West Indies all-rounder, and featured a strong gathering of sporting legends, TKR personalities, corporate leaders and young golfers.

2nd Place – Team TKR2 (62.2)

Among those in attendance were West Indies batting legend Brian Charles Lara, Trinidad and Tobago football legend Russell Latapy, TKR CEO Venky Mysore and members of the TKR team, along with representatives from corporate Trinidad and Tobago. The event also welcomed members of the Trinidad and Tobago national youth golf team, giving some of the country’s emerging golfers the opportunity to share the course with established sporting figures and business leaders.

While the competition on the course was spirited, the purpose behind the tournament remained at the heart of the day.

Speaking at the prize-giving ceremony, Bravo shared his long-term vision for the Foundation and the impact he hopes its work will continue to have on children across Trinidad and Tobago.

Since its establishment in 2015, the Dwayne Bravo Foundation has supported children, families and communities through a range of charitable initiatives. The Foundation has now donated more than $200,000 to causes and programmes across Trinidad and Tobago including the National Centre for Persons with Disabilities, Martha El Katow Home, he Credo Foundation for Justice, the Margaret Kistow Home, , the Living Water Community – Our Lady of the Wayside Home, St Jude’s Home for Girls and Helping Her TT.

3rd Place – Team Sanitation Solutions (62.7)

The Charity Golf Tournament is an extension of that commitment, using sport to bring people together while raising funds to support the Foundation’s ongoing work.

Year Two was made possible through the support of sponsors Ansa Motors, Proton, Carib, Bmobile, Coca-Cola, Dynamed Medical and Rhino Pack, whose partnership helped bring the tournament back to the greens for another year.

For Bravo, the event is about more than a day of golf. It is about creating a platform where sport, business and community can come together to make a tangible difference.

The Foundation will continue to build on its charitable work, with its focus firmly on creating opportunities and providing support for children and families in need.

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Season of Anansi Returns, Bringing Folklore, Afro-Futurism and Epic Storytelling to a New Generation.

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Trinidad and Tobago’s beloved trickster spider is once again spinning a web across the nation as the Season of Anansi National Folklore Festival returns for its fourth edition, continuing a decade-long mission to transform local folklore into a dynamic force for education, performance and cultural innovation.

Produced by the Wire Bend Folklore Theatre, the festival has become one of the country’s most ambitious youth-focused cultural initiatives, blending storytelling, theatre, literature, visual arts and Afro-Futurist imagination while reaching thousands of students and audience members across Trinidad and Tobago.

This year’s festival has already been making its way through primary and secondary schools nationwide via its popular Anansi Storytelling Tour, which runs throughout April, May and June. Students have been treated to immersive performances inspired by the bestselling New Adventures of Anansi book series, as well as engaging explorations of folklore, history and Caribbean identity.

Schools visited so far include Naparima Girls’ High School, St Mary’s College, Sangre Grande Secondary School, Chaguanas Government Primary School, Four Roads Government Primary School, Curepe Fatima RC School, St Helena Presbyterian School, and the Pentecostal Light and Life Foundation Multifaceted Educational Complex in Tobago, among others.

The festival’s reach has extended beyond the classroom. In a recent collaboration with the Alliance Française during its Week of Latin America and the Caribbean, audiences packed the venue for a sold-out presentation that explored the origins of Anansi, the enduring relevance of folklore, and live dramatic excerpts from the New Adventures of Anansi novels.

Building on a Landmark Year

The 2026 season follows what organizers describe as a breakthrough year for the festival.

In 2025, the festival significantly expanded its footprint through the multimedia exhibition and seminar Black Infinite: The Global Rise of Afro-Futurism, staged at CinemaOne IMAX. The event attracted international contributors, academics, creatives and pop-culture enthusiasts, introducing global science fiction and fantasy audiences to Trinidad and Tobago’s growing presence within the Afro-Futurist movement.

The festival also celebrated the 10th anniversary of the acclaimed stage adaptation of Anansi & the 10 Dragons with a major production at Queen’s Hall, while a moving Tribute to the Storytellers at the Little Carib Theatre honoured legendary cultural figures Paul Keens Douglas, Aunty Thea and the late Rapso artist Brother Book.

Organizers say the 2026 edition aims to deepen those international and local relationships while strengthening the schools outreach programme that has long been at the heart of the festival’s mission.

Reimagining Folklore for the Future

For 11 years, Wire Bend Folklore Theatre has been dedicated to presenting curriculum-aligned cultural programming that introduces young audiences to folklore through contemporary performance techniques and cutting-edge technology.

Since 2015, the company has created 13 original productions and performed for thousands of students and public audiences throughout the country. Its signature style combines elaborate costumes crafted by master artisans with interactive animation, digital media and immersive theatrical storytelling.

At the centre of the movement is founder and artistic director Rubadiri Victor, author of the bestselling New Adventures of Anansi series. Victor’s novels have helped pioneer a new wave of Caribbean folkloric fantasy fiction, reimagining ancestral stories for modern readers while inspiring live performances that continue to captivate school audiences.

One of the series’ most distinctive innovations is its focus on a female Anansi character—the young grandmother of the famous spider trickster—offering fresh perspectives on gender, leadership and resilience while challenging traditional storytelling conventions.

The stories tackle themes that resonate strongly with contemporary audiences, including community breakdown, misinformation, tyranny, slavery, greed and self-absorption, all while remaining rooted in the rich traditions of Trinidad and Tobago’s folklore.

Folklore Meets Afro-Futurism

A major highlight of this year’s programme will be the return of Black Infinite: The Global Rise of Afro-Futurism, which will be remounted at the National Library’s Rotunda in Port of Spain from July 6 to July 16.

The exhibition explores the growing global influence of Afro-Futurism and its connections to Caribbean storytelling traditions, offering visitors a unique blend of visual art, history, speculative fiction and cultural commentary.

For festival organizers, the objective remains clear: to inspire young people to see themselves reflected in epic stories and to recognize their own communities, landscapes and cultural traditions as worthy of imaginative exploration on the grandest scale.

As the Season of Anansi continues throughout June, the festival once again demonstrates that folklore is far from a relic of the past. In the hands of a new generation of storytellers, artists and dreamers, it remains a powerful force for creativity, identity and cultural transformation.

The Black Infinite: The Global Rise of Afro-Futurism exhibition opens at the National Library Rotunda, Abercromby Street, Port of Spain, from July 6–16, 2026. Admission is free.

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