New NGO to build TT’s families

CONRAD ALEONG, former CEO of BWIA International, is one of several prominent citizens involved in a recently launched initiative aimed at improving peoples’ lives by “mobilising the caring power of communities.” “Leaders Building Communities” is a joint effort of the Student and Alumni Services Unit (SAS) of the UWI-Institute of Business and United Way of Trinidad and Tobago (UWTT). The latter body has as its joint patrons, former President Noor Hassanali and former First Lady Zalayhar Hassanali. “It is about voluntarism and people caring for people,” chairman of the new NGO, Conrad Aleong explained.

UWTT is the latest addition to more than 40 organisations of its kind around the world which have as their umbrella body United Way International (UWI). “We don’t have to give them money,” said Aleong. On the contrary, he explained, they provide the local body with funds. “All the money we raise in Trinidad and Tobago stays right here. Even if there is need in Grenada, we could not use UWTT funds.” Aleong explained that UWTT has among its membership, people of integrity. “The system used here, as is done internationally, involving employee donations, through the payroll programme. If everybody donates every month $10 or $20, it would be amazing how if we use the whole country’s employed resources how quickly that would add up to something substantial,” he said.

He explained that the next endeavour will be on enhancing family life: “We need to bring back values, behaviour.  Our society needs to be developed into a much more civil one, which means there are fundamental things on which we have to focus. We need to bring back values, behaviour, respect, integrity, all the ethics. The emphasis is on youth and education, and that’s where most of the money will go.” Aleong praised the IOB and the Student and Alumni Services (SAS) for joining forces with UWTT in pursuing a worthy cause. Other members of UWTT’s Board are Clive Pantin, Ian Benjamin, Wayne Moze, Larry Howai, Bro Noble Khan, Bernard Dulal-Whiteway, Pundit Ravi Bharati, Dr Marie Advani, Sandra Chin Yuen Kee, Livis Gibson, Clive Belgrave, Fr Esau Joseph, Wayne Moze, Mark Ramkerrysingh, Colin Soo Pin Chow and Laila Valere. David Martin is the CEO and Mona Sookmanee-Meighoo is assistant to the CEO.