In January 2017 the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago presented ALTA with the NGO Award for Good Governance during its 2017 Gala Dinner. The event was a part of the Chamber’s annual two-day Trinidad and Tobago Energy Conference which is regarded as the premier Energy Conference in the Caribbean.
ALTA’s Resource Dev’t Manager with our “NGO Award for Good Governance 2017”
A total of six awards were presented by the Energy Chamber. The award presented to ALTA was for the NGO sector, while the others were open to companies in Trinidad and Tobago and looked at their work in the areas of Corporate Social Responsibility.
NGOs that were nominated or applied for the Good Governance award had to show an established record of continuity of work for a minimum of three years, as well as the promise of sustained activity in the future. The category looked specifically at ALTA’s ability to demonstrate good governance, our use of resources in an efficient, accountable and transparent manner and the measures we have in place to prevent corrupt practices and to promote accountability standards.
In order to be considered, ALTA had to complete an entry form detailing our background, past, current and future initiatives, our organizational structure, our Board of Directors’ composition and elections and our overall monitoring and evaluating strategies. After this we learned that we had been shortlisted and were required to make a presentation to a panel of judges. Our presentation looked at how we, as an NGO, practice accountability. Using the Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute’s self assessment tool, we showed how ALTA ensures accountability basics, accountable governance, accountable programmes and accountable resource management.
ALTA prides itself on good governance. We have a clear organisational structure and an independent, elected Board of Directors whose members actively support and guide the Association’s growth. We are also legally incorporated with charitable status and up-to-date audited accounts. Every year we produce a work plan and our annual report is presented at our Annual General Meeting and published thereafter.
ALTA ensures accountable resource management through our volunteer management model that puts volunteers through a series of steps before we invest in training them. This ensures that about 90% of those trained complete their year of service, while several stay on with ALTA for many years. We also ensure that we practise responsible money management and do regular programme monitoring and evaluation.
As we turn 25 this year, we are proud to receive such a prestigious award from the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago which speaks to our operations and strength as a local NGO.
February 21, 2017
A new video series called “What Yuh Know” has been circulating on Facebook. The host asks people five questions which test their general knowledge and ability to spell. The goal of the video seems to be humour as it specially selects those who answer incorrectly and subjects them to ridicule through short video clips or memes inserted after their responses.
While “What Yuh Know” is not focussed solely on literacy, comments on the videos highlight the poor spelling and ridicule the interviewees. People have shared the video with no thought about how this affects those who have difficulty with reading and writing.
The Adult Literacy Tutors Association provides free reading and writing classes to adults (16+) and one of the videos produced by “What Yuh Know” featured an ALTA Level One student who was asked to spell a word. He was unable to spell it correctly and he was shamed. Since then he has not returned to his ALTA class or his workplace. We are trying to contact him to encourage him to return to ALTA.
The main reason people hesitate to come to ALTA is the stigma associated with not being able to read and write. Our students struggle with shame and fear before attending ALTA and it takes great courage to sign up for and attend the classes. Being shamed publicly has the potential to cause this student to never return to an ALTA class and to dissuade potential students from coming to ALTA. Shaming poor spellers increases stigma and encourages people to struggle silently rather than seek help.
The production and sharing of the video goes further to reinforce antiquated thinking about literacy. It enables the false idea that literacy and intelligence are one and the same. This thinking is evident in our use of the term ‘illiterate’ for someone who isn’t smart rather than someone who is unable to read.
Over the past 25 years ALTA has been battling to change these perceptions to bring an understanding that reading and spelling are skills, and like other skills such as sports and music, some people have an aptitude for them and others don’t. Research shows that about 30% of any population will have difficulty with reading and writing.
Research also shows that the ability to read, write and spell does not equate to the ability to think. Indeed there are thousands of people in Trinidad who struggle with spelling, reading and writing, but excel in many other areas from science and mathematics to fashion and design.
Some brains come wired for reading, spelling and writing. For some people these skills are easy while for others these are the most difficult skills they will ever have to learn. What’s important is understanding that this does not say anything about the person’s intelligence. Our effort and energy should be put into encouraging, educating and empowering people rather than into shaming them into silence.
Volunteer, Donate or Sponsor-a-student. Call 624-2582 or email altapos.tt@gmail.com for more info. Keep up to date with ALTA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: ALTA TT