During an official ceremony in Port Mathurin at the headquarters of the Sports Commission on May 22, 2025, Veemal Gungadin, CEO of Mauritius Telecom and Chairman of the Mauritius Telecom Foundation, officially handed over the management of the Baie du Nord sports complex to the Rodrigues Regional Assembly, entrusting it with the responsibility of bringing the facility to life for and with the Rodriguan community. A memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed between Mauritius Telecom and the RRA.

This project reflects Mauritius Telecom's commitment to the health and well-being of the population.

"A sports facility is an investment in health. We all know people, within our families or among our close ones, who suffer from hypertension, diabetes, or heart problems. Physical activity can make a big difference," said Veemal Gungadin, CEO of Mauritius Telecom.

The Baie du Nord sports complex was officially inaugurated on Thursday, May 22. Developed by the Mauritius Telecom Foundation (MTF), it is the first of its kind in Rodrigues. The inauguration was carried out by Chief Commissioner Franceau Grandcourt, in the presence of his deputy, Johnson Roussety, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Varok Ravina, the Commissioner for ICT, Jean Alain Wong So, as well as the CEO of Mauritius Telecom, who is also the Chairman of the MTF.

This initiative aims to facilitate access to sports and promote physical activity on the island. The wellness space offers free sports, fitness, and leisure facilities suitable for all ages, in a safe environment where everyone can enjoy their activities with peace of mind.

It also highlights the unifying power of sport, which strengthens social bonds and helps build a stronger community.

"This is a special moment for me—not only because we are inaugurating a space dedicated to wellness and sports today, but more importantly because, together, we are writing a new chapter for our youth, our families, and the entire community," he added.

The sports complex was officially handed over to the Rodrigues Sports Commission.

The financial support provided by the MTF to local NGOs is a concrete example of Mauritius Telecom's social commitment to Rodrigues. Each year, the foundation supports associations working toward inclusion, social integration, and better living conditions on the island.

This year, the process was redesigned and a call for proposals was launched, after which 7 NGOs were invited to present their projects at a ceremony in Mourouk on Friday, May 23, 2025.

The foundation welcomed impactful projects under the following focus areas:

• Poverty Alleviation: Empower vulnerable communities through livelihood creation, skills training, financial literacy, and social enterprise initiatives.
• Early Childhood Development: Support the well-being of children aged 0–6 through programs in nutrition, early learning, caregiver support, and holistic development.
• Environmental Sustainability: Contribute to climate action, conservation, biodiversity, sustainable farming, water and sanitation, and effective waste management.
• Education Access & Quality: Promote digital inclusion, enhance learning outcomes, improve infrastructure, and support teacher development for inclusive, quality education.

"Our social involvement with local NGOs reflects our desire to contribute sustainably to the island's development. This year, we adopted a new approach with a call for projects to give every local initiative a chance to be heard. The jury was mostly made up of local individuals—because they, more than anyone, understand the realities on the ground and what their country truly needs,” said Veemal Gungadin. Indeed, a panel, comprising CEO Veemal Gungadin, MT employees in Rodrigues, and the National Empowerment Foundation (NEF) Programme Manager Jinny Wendy Kan John-Begue and 3 staff of Mauritius Telecom Rodrigues, evaluated the presentations to identify the most impactful initiatives.

Each shortlisted NGO received Rs 75,000 in funding. An additional Rs 550,000 was distributed among the three most impactful projects:

• GPL SEN School, which supports children with disabilities and learning difficulties, received the highest additional grant of Rs 250,000.
• Hibiscus Pompée Pre-Primary School, for the expansion and modernization of its playground, received Rs 175,000.
• Les Enfants D'abord, an association promoting holistic child development through art, was awarded Rs 125,000.

À travers sa filiale, la Mauritius Telecom Foundation (MTF), Mauritius Telecom a offert 10 fauteuils roulants au Trust Fund for Specialised Medical Care – Cardiac Centre, réaffirmant ainsi son engagement fort et durable en matière de responsabilité sociale des entreprises. La remise officielle a été effectuée par M. Sarat Lallah, Chairman de Mauritius Telecom, en présence de M. D. Poinoosawmy, Executive Director, du Dr Pravish Sookha, Chairperson et du Dr Sunil Gunness du Trust Fund for Specialised Medical Care – Cardiac Centre.

Lors de son intervention, M. Lallah a souligné le rôle majeur de la MTF dans la lutte contre la pauvreté et la promotion de l'intégration sociale et économique. Depuis sa création en 2009, la Fondation a investi Rs 408 millions dans des projets à fort impact social. Elle soutient activement des initiatives dans les domaines des TIC, de l'éducation, de la santé, du sport et de l'environnement.

Ce don de fauteuils roulants s'inscrit dans la continuité des actions de la MTF visant à améliorer l'accès aux soins et à accompagner les personnes les plus vulnérables à Maurice. Ces équipements faciliteront la mobilité et le confort des patients du Cardiac Centre, contribuant à une prise en charge plus humaine et efficace.

À noter que cette remise a eu lieu le 15 mai, à l'occasion de la célébration de la Nurses' Day au Cardiac Centre. À cette occasion, M. Lallah a tenu à saluer la contribution inestimable du personnel infirmier dans le système de santé mauricien.