Pink Reign Campaign
The MSCD’s Pink Reign Campaign seeks to facilitate the development of women and girls by providing opportunities to increase awareness and participation in the key aspects of sport and physical activity. Initially launched in October of 2019, the campaign has supported 84 female participants in various fitness challenges- thirty-two (32) participants in the KISS 5K Race held in January 2020, thirty-six (36) participants in the OJO Fitness Aerobic Carnival Burnout in February 2020 and had sixteen (16), young girls, as part of the Power in Action Walk at the International Women’s Day Rally in March 2020.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the campaign was reconfigured to a virtual edition and relaunched on International Women’s Day (March 8, 2021). This campaign will now be executed using a comprehensive, four-pronged approach examining all areas of sport. This included:
- Monthly panel discussions – A platform for athletes and key players to share experiences, and allow key stakeholders to impart knowledge on relevant topics such as women as leaders in sport, opportunities and careers in sport, entrepreneurship and business development, physical activity, diet and nutrition, mental health and well-being, non-communicable diseases and risk factors, fostering a culture shift and life skills. This exposure will be the foundation to new skills towards upward social mobility and an increased sense of social responsibility.
Panel Discussions:
“The Journey of a Million Miles: Tackling NCD’s in women and girls- Mental Health, Diet and Exercise” https://youtu.be/wQxkreEFNoc
“Fostering a Cultural Shift” https://youtu.be/WCWqE8mIr48
“Breaking the Cycle: Changing the Game” https://youtu.be/mnnpljqtPbo
“Countless opportunities: Careers in Sport” https://youtu.be/2r1aLp7199A
“Money Moves- Entrepreneurship and Business Development” https://youtu.be/-u0V9O8g5oQ
- Social media stories highlighting and celebrating women in sport– this video series will feature 20 local women and girls excelling in various areas of sport, be it at the athlete, administrative or executive level. Conversations with Women in Sport
- Sport training videos series – This video series involves exposure to training in playing, managing, coaching and administration of various sports. These will introduce women to fundamental knowledge and skills to apply to various game situations and encourage participation in sport as fun rather than entirely competitive. Examples of these activities include draughts and checkers, darts and chess while exploring more physically intense activities like volleyball, Special Olympics, basketball, cheerleading, jump rope, table tennis, body-building, dance and Shotokan. Sport Training Series Playlist
- Virtual races -“GirlsRunTT” Challenge –The #GirlsRunTT Challenge seeks to encourage more women and girls to be physically active and increase their involvement and participation in sport. In recognition of International Women’s Day 2021 (#IWD2021), the Ministry of Sport and Community Development (MSCD) enrolled and sponsored 340 women and girls to participate in a number of virtual road races covering 70 miles between the months of March and September 2021. The challenge took participants on a virtual journey celebrating the magnificent seven buildings around the Queens Park Savannah (Bafasports’ Magnificent 70 Mile Challenge), whilst paying tribute to the late ‘Granny’ Luces, one of T&T’s most beloved long-distance runners. For 2022, MSCD will enroll and sponsor 400 women and girls to participate in Bafasports’ Active Tobago 83-Mile Virtual Road Race Challenge between the months of March and August 2022. The challenge will take participants on a virtual journey highlighting the beauty and splendour of Tobago including Pigeon Point, the leatherback turtle, Goat racing, Brain Coral, Bird of Paradise, Crab, Glass bottom boat, Cocrico and Fort King George, one of Tobago’s most well-preserved historical sites. The MSCD is working with Bafasports Limited on this initiative.
The 2021 Challenge winners were:-
First to hit 20 Miles- Michelle Bissoondial, First to hit 70 Miles- Zaneesha Mohammed,
Eldest Participant- Norma Woods (86 Years of Age), Youngest to complete- Asia Clarke (13 years of age), Most Improved (tie) – Ashakie Hagley and Amelia Luces, Most Engaged on social media- Varla Ross, Largest Team- +OAW Members- Abiola Pierre- Holder-Munroe, Victoria Surajdeen, Chantel Le Maitre, Vania Paltoo, Uchechi Okezie, Emily Ramirez, Natalie O Brien, Adeola Walsh and Zaneesha Mohammed.
Photos:
Minister Cudjoe (2nd left) with Director of Physical Education and Sport Division, Gabre McTair (left), Abbinah Donatien, grand-daughter of the late Lynette ‘Granny’ Luces (2nd from right) and Nigel Belamy of Bafasports holding the commemorative medals participants will receive on completion of all seven races of the #GirlsRunTT Challenge.
From left: Minister Shamfa Cudjoe, Minister of Sport and Community Development presents Abbinah Donatien, grand-daughter of the late Lynette ‘Granny’ Luces (right) with a Pink Reign t-shirt for #GirlsRunTT Challenge, which pays tribute to the beloved long-distance runner, the late Granny Luces.
The Honourable Shamfa Cudjoe, Minister of Sport and Community Development (centre) with the winners of the GirlsRunTT Challenge (L-R) Varla Ross, Most Engaged on Social Media; Michelle Bissoondial, First to hit 20 Miles; Ashakie Hagley and Amelia Lucess, Most Improved (tie), Zaneesha Mohammed, First to hit 70 Miles and Norma Woods (front), Eldest Participant at the Prize Giving Ceremony at Nicholas Tower, POS.
The Honourable Shamfa Cudjoe, Minister of Sport and Community Development and Gabre McTair, Director of Physical Education and Sport present Zaneesha Mohammed winner of the ‘First to Hit 70 Miles’ of the Ministry’s GirlsRunTT Challenge with hampers sponsored by Shine Distributors and Ocean Spray (Massy Distribution)
The Honourable Shamfa Cudjoe, Minister of Sport and Community Development presents a Gatorade Hamper to Norma Woods Eldest Participant of the Ministry’s GirlsRunTT Challenge.