press releases

Port of Spain, Trinidad—Regional insurance giant Sagicor donated funds to the Adult Literacy Tutors Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ALTA) to support the production of learning aids, such as phonic and rule cards, for students, at the company’s Port of Spain head office around the Queen’s Park Savannah, on Thursday, July 7.

ALTA began in 1992 with its free literacy classes throughout Trinidad and Tobago to people 16 years and over. Since 2020, due to the ongoing pandemic, the organisation has had to pivot to virtual learning, as they were no longer able to continue in-person classes at their 50 venues nationwide. This new approach means that students now collect their workbooks and cards at ALTA offices or retail partners. Hence, the donation will be used to print the necessary phonic and rule cards to support students in the new term.

Sagicor’s Dirk Hart, assistant vice president, direct sales and client relations, in group life and health, said, “Sagicor holds to its vision of supporting the communities in which we operate and does so in practical ways. Literacy is central to our personal success and advancement. ALTA has really stepped into the gap to support citizens, reinforcing that it is never too late to learn.”

M'aisha Thomas, ALTA’s resource development manager, said, “Providing ALTA's students with the tools they need is critical to their success as emergent readers. ALTA thanks Sagicor Life Inc for its continued commitment to literacy with the sponsorship of this reprint of phonic and rule cards for Levels 1, 2 and 3. These materials support learning in the in-person classroom and in our current virtual setting with ALTA-V via Zoom. We encourage those aged 16 and over who wish to improve their reading, writing, and spelling to register with us for the upcoming term starting in September by calling our offices.”

ALTA said over 1,500 students benefit from the free classes every year, particularly in low-income urban and rural areas. The cards are a tactile learning guide that help students reinforce the classroom instruction.