International Women's Day greetings from Alta, an association of professional tutors that was 100 per cent female when it was started, and more than 20 years later about 90 per cent female. Alta stands as an example of what women working together can achieve, despite the odds being stacked against them. But this does not mean there is no place for men in Alta.
Some 300 Alta trained, volunteer tutors turn up twice a week, virtually every week for an academic year, with a core of tutors staying for five or more years. In recent times, we have several men among them. There are even tutors that have served Alta for 20 years and counting, though they are all female.
Alta has been witnessing a growth in participation among men as both tutors and students over the last five years. Since 2010 when Alta's public awareness campaign struck a chord with men, Alta has retained a balance between male and female students and in some classes the men now outnumber the women. Added to this, Alta's Board now comprises an equal complement of male directors to female. As a minority group in a predominantly female organisation, their participation helps dispels the notion that teaching, or volunteering, is solely the domain of women.
Their action indicates to our supporters that men are not only paying attention but taking responsibility for the change civil society is working to achieve. At the leadership level, their presence has brought perspective and sought to narrow the divide between the business and the NGO sector.
But the bottom line in Alta remains that there are fewer men who willing to face their fears, to brave the shame and act to improve their literacy. So our work on capturing the attention of our "macho" men, masking their shame, is ongoing. Women are still more likely to have the kind of courage that enables them to admit to weakness, to "come out", to face the world.
A key motivator for women is their children. Many students have described their hard lives and the feelings of isolation impacted by low literacy. As an adult facing these realities they often say, "I don't want my children to be like me. So I have to learn to read and write to help them." Now, more men are coming to Alta saying this as well.
This year, "No shame, go brave" has been our main call to action for the hundreds, if not thousands, who hide in the shadow of shame. Our hero mascots are both male and female, as are our students and tutors because heroes look at themselves and see more than meets the eye. Every week they step out of their daily roles as parent, employer, employee and friend to take the reins of literacy in the Alta classroom, accomplishing feats they once deemed impossible. To do this, there has been no gender divide.
Volunteer work does not have to be paid to be valuable and valued. Men at Alta recognise this, and their presence helps merge the conversation on literacy beyond an assessment of the yearly CSEC and SEA results to a place where action surpasses inaction. Alta is strong because we respond to needs, we stay focussed and we work together, without fear.
�2 Become a part of Alta. Volunteer, donate, spread the word. Alta volunteers are unpaid. Call 624-ALTA (2582) or e-mail altapos.tt@gmail.com or find us on Facebook: Alta Trinidad.