The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) partnered with the Ministry of Education Transformation are aiming to raise $50,m 000 for schools through its m Adopt-A-School Futsal Tournament, with a record 24 corporate teams set to compete when the competition kicks off in August.
Representatives of the participating teams. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla)
The fundraising target was announced on Friday during the tournament update and team draw at Hotel Indigo, Christ Church, where BHTA special projects manager Tessalee Moore said the increased participation reflected growing corporate support for education through sport.
“This year, our aim is to raise $50 000,” she said. “The funds raised would allow the program to continue responding to the needs identified through our work with the Ministry of Education Transformation and expand the support we’re able to provide to our schools.”
Moore explained that the initiative was built on the belief that sport could be used to strengthen communities while addressing real needs within schools.
“The tournament was created around the simple idea that the power and popularity of sport could be used to support something equally important: the development of our schools and our young people. Through the Adopt-a-School programme, the BHTA works alongside the Ministry of Education Transformation to better understand the needs within our schools and to identify areas where support can make a meaningful difference.”
The association’s theme, “Supporting education, building community, promoting wellness”, remained the driving force behind the initiative, she said.
Reflecting on last year’s inaugural competition, Moore said the tournament demonstrated that corporate sport could produce tangible benefits for education.
“In 2025… 16 corporate teams took part in the inaugural tournament. Together, we raised $3 000, which supported the purchase of $5 000 in projectors, $3 000 in fans, $16 000 in water tanks, and $6 000 in football nets.”
The nets were later donated to the National Sports Council to support the primary schools football tournament.
Moore also highlighted the tournament’s rapid expansion, noting that last year she had been challenged to increase participation from 16 teams.
“I’m happy to say challenge accepted and challenge conquered. We’re here today with 24 teams. That growth is something we’re incredibly proud of. It shows that the tournament is gaining momentum and that more companies are choosing to be a part of an initiative that brings together sport, corporate engagement and educational development.”
She revealed that 20 of the 24 participating teams are BHTA members, describing the response as “a strong indication that the commitment of our membership to support this initiative… is vast”.
The futsal tournament will be played at the Oasis on August 8 and 9, 15 and 16, 22 and 23, and 28 to 30, with defending champions Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre (LESC) returning to defend their title.
BHTA chief executive Senator Ryan Forde said the tournament was created to do more than simply stage another sporting event.
BHTA Chief Executive Officer Senator Ryan Forde. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla)
“We wanted that we’re not just getting people to come and play a sport, but to educate them a little bit more on what the BHTA does,” he said.
“We deal with team members. We also deal with education and training, and because of that, we now are raising funds through the football initiative in order for us to give back to schools.”
He explained that the association wanted an initiative that would benefit both tourism employees and the wider community.
“Our aim is to make sure that this charity initiative has a double benefit… for our team members that work in the industry as well as the supporting services. And then on the other side of the coin is that we want to continuously give back to the schools every year.”
Forde said the association hopes to sustain the tournament for years to come.
Deputy Chief Education Officer the Reverend Stephen Scott welcomed the continued partnership between the education ministry and the tourism industry, saying the proceeds had already helped schools make meaningful improvements.
Deputy Chief Education Officer Reverend Stephen Scott. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla)
“We are cognisant that we cannot accomplish it all on our own and thus we are very happy to partner with others like the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association to work together towards these goals as we strive to be the number one education system in the world.”
He said funds generated by last year’s tournament contributed to improvements in information technology, recreational spaces, environmental initiatives, nutrition programmes and sporting opportunities across primary and secondary schools.
“Your provision of items… has certainly assisted us in achieving the two aforementioned goals of our education transformation.”
Scott also reminded participants that today’s beneficiaries could become tomorrow’s tourism professionals.
“Indeed, the students that you have assisted can possibly be your employees of tomorrow.”
General secretary of the Barbados Football Association, Nicholas Branker, said the association remained committed to supporting programmes that used football to create lasting social change.
General Secretary of the Barbados Football Association Nicholas Branker. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla)
“The significance of this tournament extends well beyond the football court. Every team that participates, every sponsor that lends its support, every individual who contributes to this initiative is helping to create better learning environments and greater opportunities for the young people of Barbados.
“Football has a unique ability to unite people from every sector of society. It breaks down barriers, strengthens relationships, promotes healthy lifestyles, and instils values such as teamwork, discipline, respect and resilience.”
The defending champions said they were looking forward to another competitive tournament while supporting a worthwhile cause.
Tahir Batson of Barbados Conference Services Limited/Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre described last year’s experience as memorable and “very exciting knowing that it’s the first. It was very competitive… but we made it through. We made it to the end… becoming the champions”.
With the field expanding to 24 teams this year, he acknowledged the challenge ahead, “so we have to play definitely harder than what we did last year in order to get the title again as champions”.
Batson said the opportunity to support schools made the competition even more meaningful:
“We were very excited when we first heard of it. We wanted desperately to be a part of it knowing what it would do in the end.”
Lifting the inaugural trophy boosted morale within the company:
“We were very happy, especially going back to work, wearing the trophies around our necks… It was a good experience also, and it really boosts the company as a whole.”
(LE)
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