Why ALTA?

Impact

ALTA assists over 1,000 students every year.

2012 ALTA Impact Survey

In addition to improving their reading and writing, students said ALTA boosted their self confidence and self-esteem and saw this as just as important. 

  • Over half (52%) were able to move into higher paying jobs with an average increase of 32% in their salaries after completing the programme.
  • 100% would recommend ALTA to others.
  • 82% rated ALTA tutors as excellent.

Monitoring and Evaluation

In its first decade, ALTA developed a structured and integrated volunteer management system of recruitment, training, refresher training and ongoing classroom guidance and support to ensure standards are maintained. Tutors are awarded a graded certificate after one year of teaching.

Track Record

ALTA has delivered its home-grown literacy programme within the NGO, corporate, and government sectors including Rebirth House, Credo House, ArcelorMittal, TCL, The Retraining Programme and all correctional facilities.

It has trained literacy tutors in St Vincent, Antigua and Grenada, with an adult literacy programme using the ALTA approach and materials operating in Grenada for five years until Hurricane Ivan.

ALTA training team, Maximum Security Prison, 2001
ALTA tutor training in Grenada, 2015

High performance

ALTA is a major innovator and leader in literacy education in the Caribbean.

Awards

2001 Hummingbird Medal Gold for service in the sphere of education awarded to ALTA Founder/CEO Paula Lucie-Smith

2014 JB Fernandes Award for NGO Excellence for ALTA’s work in adult literacy education in Trinidad & Tobago

NGO Good Governance Award, presented to ALTA in 2017 by the Energy Chamber of Trinidad & Tobago

2008 UNESCO selected ALTA and Paula Lucie-Smith as a ‘model for adaptation and replication’ in Mexico

Paula Lucie-Smith received an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) from The University of the West Indies, St Augustine

NGC named ALTA as the Above and Beyond awardee in 2020, as recognition of ALTA’s work in literacy.

2012 Paula Lucie-Smith awarded the
2012 Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Award for Excellence in Public and Civic Work
Shaping the Future of Innovation Award in the SME Category – joint European Union, Ministry of Planning and Development, IDB and CARIRI