REPUBLIC BANK LIMITED
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The late Nigerian lawyer, Obafemi Awolowo, expressed it best when he said, “In honest hands,
literacy is the surest and the most effective means to true education.” Globally and regionally, the
disparities between literacy levels are reason for concern, and in recognising that fact, Republic
Bank chose to place a particular focus on the rarely acknowledged issue of literacy. When we
formally pledged our support toward national empowerment and the building of successful
societies, through our Power to make a Difference programme, we did so with the knowledge
that this one group, with one focus, with one collective power could leave a positive and indelible
mark on this Region.
Association Primary School students will be able to study in
their library or computer room in their new wing. These types
of initiatives are especially important to us because they allow
us to create educational inroads for students – the future of
our nation. They are a tangible reflection of our focus on youth
development through education. Since 2002, we have worked
with the Butler Institute of Lifelong Learning (BILL) – an institute
that has been instrumental in improving literacy standards
in the country. In partnering with them, we have seen many
improvements in the performance of the students in Primary
School children across the Nation.
Literacy, however, is not an issue solely related to our young
people. There is a deficit in the older generations of our society
as well. Our longstanding partnership with the Adult Literacy
Tutors Association (ALTA) has facilitated literacy instruction
for hundreds of citizens, with adult literacy classes and ALTA’s
Reading Circles. The Trinidad and Tobago National Commission
for UNESCO (United Nations Education Science and Cultural
Organisation), upon realising that well directed training of
principals is critical to the reduction of literacy, embarked on
a training programme for primary school teachers across
Trinidad and Tobago. The three-pronged programme focuses
on leadership skills for the principal, instructional skills for
the teacher and parenting skills for the home. We supported
the Parenting for Literacy Intervention leg of the Programme,
which trained approximately 4,000 parents. We see our
investment as an opportunity to create a new generation of
fully literate citizens; it is a chance for us to help improve the
flow of communication between parents and children; it is an
opportunity to improve family relations and it is an opportunity
for our children to develop sound reasoning skills which will
help them come to more amicable solutions when faced with
challenges.
Under the
Power to Care,
we have worked with those, whose
disabilities have made them outcasts, and we have had the
humbling experience of realising that though they may have
challenges, their abilities are what have made them special.
During the time that we have partnered with the Autistic
Society of Trinidad and Tobago, we have gained a greater
In focusing that energy on the issue of literacy, we envisioned
a Nation of highly literate and educated people who could
harness their powers to make a difference toward the successful
future of our society. There are so many, who have never read
a book, who can understand a person’s words, when they have
been spoken, but not when they have been written. And with
the World moving at such an accelerated, technological pace,
we believe that we cannot afford to sit back and hope that
those who are still illiterate will somehow find their way.
It is our belief that there is value in every human life and
everyone has the ability to make a valuable contribution to
society. This belief has guided the growth of our Programme,
which has a four-pillar scope – the Power to Learn, the Power to
Care, the Power to Succeed and the Power to Help. Our hope,
as we firmly move ahead in realising the Programme’s goals, is
other corporate organisations will deepen their focus on social
responsibility – creating a positive movement that will redound
to the benefit of the Nation and the Region.
We have, as time has passed, built invaluable relationships
with numerous non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
and community-based organisations (CBOs), working side
by side with them to help transform the shape and face of
communities, while unlocking the potential of those residing
within the communities. The experience has been educational,
fulfilling…and humbling.
Under the
Power to Learn,
we took our focus to the schools,
putting steps in place, wherever we could, to help young people
receive the education that they deserved. A child’s learning
environment plays an important role in their ability to absorb the
information they are given. A leaky roof, broken desks, unstable
floors…all these create an uncomfortable environment, and
an uncomfortable student is an unfocussed student. This year,
we were able to ensure that scores of students could function
under suitable conditions. With contributions toward St. Theresa
Girls’ R.C. School, the girls now have an activity centre and the
School is now able to facilitate workshops geared toward extra-
curricular activities. The students at St. Mary’s Mucurapo Boys’
R.C. School have seen their classrooms and School ground
undergo many upgrades. Aranguez Tackveeyatul Islamic
ThePower toMakeaDifference
