Former West Indies cricketers Samuel Badree and Jason Mohammed conducted a toy drive on the weekend, giving toys and sports equipment to more than 1,000 children in the Barrackpore community.
The event commenced in Upper Barrackpore and moved into the surrounding communities of Oropouche River Road, Battan Trace, Cumoto, Rochard Douglas Road, and other areas.
“We wanted to do Former West Indies cricketers Samuel Badree and Jason Mohammed conducted a toy drive on the weekend, giving toys and sports equipment to more than 1,000 children in the Barrackpore community.
The event commenced in Upper Barrackpore and moved into the surrounding cosomething for the young boys and girls in the district. The theme of the project was to encourage physical activity, mainly cricket. So we gave out hundreds of cricket bats, balls, skipping ropes just to get the children outside and away from their screens and playing,” Badree said.
“Jason Mohammed and I decided to embark on this project. It holds a very special place in our minds and our hearts, the community of Barrackpore that has given so much,” he added.
Badree and Mohammed grew up in the Barrackpore area, which has produced several national and West Indies cricketers.
“When we were young and growing up, we were playing in the backyard, the front yard, in the street, and in the playground. I know it’s different these days but we aren’t seeing children playing physical games. They are playing a lot of online games. So we want the kids to come out of the confines of their homes and go outside and play. That’s the reason why we gave so much equipment, for them to come outside and play,” the former West Indies leg-spinner said.
“We engaged well over 1,000 children throughout the length and breadth of Barrackpore. It was something that brought tremendous joy to not only the children but also to us. It’s something that we will be looking to do annually,” Badree added.
Badree thanked the entire organization committee, including all the volunteers who made the event a success.
Badree, 42, represented the West Indies in 52 T20Is and was a key member of the teams that won the 2012 and 2016 ICC T20 World Cups.
He is now an international cricket commentator, with his most recent assignment being the England tour of the West Indies.
Badree is also the founder of Badree’s Academy of Sport Education (BASE).
Mohammed, 37, played 36 ODIs for the West Indies and nine T20Is.
He was part of the T&T Red Force team that won a record-extending 14th regional 50-over title last month.