Dashing down the stairs, laughing children pause to enjoy the green, gold and red decorations festooning the family's Christmas tree. Their sights are more trained on presents strewn beneath the tree or popping out of a red stocking. Opening presents might be staple during Christmas throughout most of T&T. But such a joyous experience might not materialise for the majority of children at Mamoral Village. It is located close to Caparo Village, in central Trinidad. A group of concerned citizens calling themselves Elfs (Enabling Our Little Friends To Smile) rose to the challenge to spread a bit of Christmas cheer for the underprivileged children there in 2010. They were led by Elfs president Joanne Narsamar, co-ordinator Nolan Dhanoolal and Guardian Media Ltd's cashier/volunteer Lateisha Ramdeen.
Interviewed last week, Ramdeen said: "The project to give gifts to the children of Mamoral started last year. Nolan came up with the idea to distribute presents to the children in a rural community. We came up with Mamoral. We realised even though people give gifts to children who are less fortunate, nobody goes into Mamoral. They go into places like Beetham. "People don't do charity drives up in Mamoral. I found it was a nice way to bring cheer to other people and their children." When they drove into Mamoral, they got to work busy like Santa's elves distributing presents. The children were excited to receive dolls, tea sets, trucks and trains. They jostled for a coveted space on Santa's lap.
Need help, $20,000 to clear container
Commenting on their intervention, Dhanoolal added: "We gave out 1,500 presents. We are aiming for 2,000 presents. We will be doing party bags for the children." While Ramdeen and Dhanoolal are pleased at the response, they are hoping to get some help from private citizens and corporate T&T. "We have to get $20,000 to clear a container of toys on the port. We are hoping to make the target."
More info
• People wishing to help with donations can contact-783-6722 (c) or 794-8672 (c) and 772-7030
Toys and gift bags would be distributed to the children of Mamoral on December 11.