Several charitable organisations in 2006 received donations from the Association
of Female Executives of Trinidad & Tobago (AFETT). AFETT pledges to donate to
charity a portion of the revenue generated annually through its activities and programmes,
such as the annual Suit Me UP sale of nearly new clothing, and the Six Steps to
Success professional training programme.
Organisations which received donations this year were:
1. The Shelter for Battered Women
2. ALTA
3. The Dyslexia Association
4. St. Jude’s Home for Girls
5. Margaret Kistow Home
6. The Rape Crisis Centre
The Shelter for Battered Women
The shelter is a safe home located in the Port of Spain area, for abused
women and their children, that has been in operation since 1987. The Shelter provides
counselling, medical assistance, legal and dental services to the women and children
in their care. They also provide skills training to make the women marketable, and
get them on their feet.
AFETT would like to encourage the membership to contribute toiletries or non perishable
goods to the Shelter, on an ongoing basis, to assist in keeping the shelter open
and functional.
ALTA $2000
The Adult Literacy programme teaches people 16 years and over, who cannot read,
how to do so, at no cost to them. ALTA centres can be found at 70 venues throughout
Trinidad. Volunteers are needed on an ongoing basis, to help teach people how to
read. Any AFETT member who can commit to teach two hours a week, two days a week,
can call the ALTA office at 624/2582 to volunteer your time and service. ALTA will
train you for free.
The Dyslexia Association $3000
The Dyslexia Association is a registered charity. It was formed in 1990
by a group of teachers and parents concerned about dyslexic children. The aims of
the Association are:
- To educate the general public about dyslexia
- To be a support group for dyslexics, parents and teachers
- To work with the Ministry of Education in an attempt
- To have specially trained teachers in every school
- To train as many teachers as possible in methods for teaching dyslexics
Immediately following its inception, the Association met with the Ministry of Education
to discuss the Common Entrance Examination and, as a result of this, all schools
were invited to apply for concessions for pupils with specific learning difficulties
(SLD) or dyslexia. The Association arranges lectures, films and discussions for
teachers, parents and dyslexics. There is a library of books, cassettes and videos
on the topic of dyslexia and other learning disabilities, as well as a Taped Book
Library with over 200 taped books for adults and children For more information you
may contact:
The Dyslexia Association
84 Belmont Circular Road, Belmont, Trinidad, West Indies
Tel. (868) 624-7323/READ
email info@dyslexiatt.org
St. Jude’s Home $2500
St. Jude's Home for Girls is run by the Carmelite Sisters, which provides a home,
shelter, clothing and schooling for at risk young women aged 10 to 18 years. Typically
girls are sent to them via the Court system. The home assesses the girls, recommends
a rehabilitation programme including sports and basic academics, secondary schooling
at Corpus Christi College in Diego Martin for those who passed SEA, as well as skills
training in a variety of areas like typing, book binding, sewing. The Home receives
a subvention from the Government but relies on help from private citizens and organisations
like AFETT to help them operate the facility.
Margaret Kistow Home $2500
19 years ago, Maragaret Kistow founded a home for children, which has evolved
from a day care centre into a place where orphaned and abused children can find
a safe haven.
Located on Akbarali Street in Malabar, the home currently provides a family type
environment for 28 children, ranging in ages from 5 months to 18 years.
A small staff of helpers and care givers rely on companies, associations and individuals
for their survival, since they get no assistance from Government.
The children at this home receive schooling via the public school system, however
help and funding is needed not only to teach the children skills, but to assist
the older teenage boys and girls, to establish themselves after they leave the
only home they know. For more information on how you or your company can help, Ms.
Kistow can be reached at 769-9163.
The Rape Crisis Society of Trinidad and Tobago
The Rape Crisis Society of Trinidad and Tobago (RCS) is a non-profit, non-governmental
organisation established in 1984. Since its inception, the RCS has implemented a
number of activities and projects that were identified as important and necessary
to meet the needs of the national community, in particular, the survivors of abuse.
The following is a list of the major intervention activities since 1986:
- The Rape Crisis Society was a catalyst for effective lobbying among NGOs which led
to the passing of the Sexual Offences Bill 1986.
- Sensitisation efforts at the national community level encouraged greater reporting
of crimes of violence against persons.
- The Rape Crisis Society operates a 24-hour hotline service that started in 1984.
- The Rape Crisis Society provides training in counselling skills, basic, advanced
and for the hotline.