FUNDING

ALTA is a voluntary, non-profit organization with approved charitable status, funded primarily by donations from the corporate sector, with Caribbean Money Market Brokers (CMMB) currently ALTA’s major sponsor, funding one sixth of the annual budget over a three-year period.  Ongoing sponsorship also comes from United Way of T&T, Bermudez Biscuit Co. Ltd., the John Phillips Trust, RBTT Educational Foundation, UK Women's Club, American Women's Club, the Neal & Massy Foundation, Sagicor and Price Charities.

ALTA tutors pay an annual membership of $30.  Individuals who would like to support ALTA’s work can join as “Friends of ALTA” and pay a $100 annual subscription.  Also, in September 2003, ALTA launched a “Sponsor-A-Student” drive, where sponsors pay $500 to sponsor a student for one year.

ALTA seeks funding annually for:

• Public Awareness Campaign prior to student registration (press & radio ads, printing of flyers or posters)
• Publication of adult literacy books (new or revised)
• Computer upgrades
• Training Courses

AFFILIATIONS

ALTA is registered with the Foundation for the Enhancement and Enrichment of Life (FEEL) of T&T, United Way of T&T, and has links with the Adult Education Unit, Ministry of Education, and the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS).  In 2008 NALIS partnered with ALTA to offer the ALTA Programme to teens and pre-teens through Youth Lit at 7 libraries, with plans to extend to all libraries.  Up to 2008 the Retraining Programme of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education had contracted ALTA to provide the literacy component of their programme.  ALTA has also provided literacy instruction through other NGO’s, including SERVOL, CREDO Foundation and Cyril Ross Nursery.

ALTA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 Executive Board, 2011-2012

Hetty Sarjeant has served as Chairman of the ALTA Board since 2005 and is an ALTA-trained tutor. She is an experienced leader and manager of population and reproductive health facilities and programmes for thirty years, with strong skills in advocacy, management, programme design, implementation and evaluation. She is a former representative of UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) where she had responsibility for initiating and supporting population and reproductive health programmes with governments and non-governmental organisations in 21 Caribbean countries. She holds an MBA and has won a number of awards including Outstanding Service to the Caribbean in the Field of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Population (from IPPF/WHR and CFPA) and Outstanding Contribution to the Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago (from the FPA).

Paula Lucie-Smith won a Trinidad Island Scholarship in Modern Studies and went on to graduate from the University of Warwick (BA, History) and the University of Leicester (Post-Graduate Certificate in Education, 1983). Paula returned to Trinidad and went into teaching.  This experience opened her eyes to the huge literacy deficit among secondary school students.  In 1990, International Literacy Year, Paula attended a UNESCO-sponsored course in Trinidad to train volunteer adult literacy tutors. She is also a certified teacher for dyslexics. After two years’ teaching adult literacy, Paula founded the Adult Literacy Tutors Association (ALTA).  Paula continues to develop and manage the ALTA Programme and has authored sixty adult literacy books. In 2001, she was awarded the Hummingbird Medal (Gold) and has also received two Paul Harris Fellowships for community service from Rotary International.

Hamilton (Tim) Padmore has served as ALTA’s treasurer since 2008, and has been an ALTA tutor since 2006. With a background in Accounting, Economics, Finance and graduate qualifications in Business Management, Tim has over 20 years of practical experience as Comptroller for Heritage AMOCO/bpTT.  His skills lie in effective, efficient management of accounting and financial records, as well as the development and maintenance of new systems.

Marise Warner, Legal Adviser

Marise Warner was awarded a Bachelor of Laws degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science, 1995 and a Legal Education Certificate from Hugh Wooding Law School in 1997,  subsequent to which she was admitted to practise at Trinidad and Tobago bar and enrolled as an attorney-at-law. She later obtained a BSc. in Psychology from the University of the West Indies with a minor in Social Policy. She has acquired Mediation Settlement training from the Duke University Private Adjudication Centre, NC, USA and Family and Divorce Mediation training from the Judicial Education Institute of Trinidad and Tobago. In addition she has been awarded a Certificate in International Negotiations: Practical Skills & Techniques from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.  As the Board’s Legal Officer, she assists with the provision of governance and stewardship to ALTA and is responsible for the collaborative management of ALTA and the formulation of its policy. She is also responsible for giving legal advice to the Association; drafting and negotiating contracts.

Brenda De Silva is a household name in the field of broadcast journalism. Her career at the National Broadcasting Network (NBN) Ltd. spans 40 years and includes freelance news casting on the nightly news, training in Marketing Management and Supervisory Skills and an appointment to the board of management of the National Broadcasting Service (NBS) and management committee responsible for operations at NBN. Brenda became an ALTA tutor in 2005 and in 2006 she joined the board as the Public Relations Officer bringing her invaluable networking skills.

Gem Rowe has served at the Executive Secretary level in the corporate sector for many years and became an ALTA tutor in 2004. She became secretary to ALTA’s board in 2006 and the organization is well-served by her previous experience as secretary to a corporate charitable foundation.