Meet Sharifa Ali-Abdullah, the director/CEO of the Children's Authority of T&T who has successfully led the pioneering work which resulted in the landmark establishment of the authority in May this year.
This is no surprise, given her previous positions which have all centred around the social and economic development of T&T and further abroad. She successfully co-led the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) conference in T&T, worked in the Ministries of Finance and Planning and at the Office of the Prime Minister, and completed stints at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank as well as undertook project work in Kosovo as part of her International Master's Programme at Columbia University. Ali-Abdullah also represented T&T in various capacities in Uganda, India, Qatar, Brazil and Malaysia.
Beyond all these endeavours, Ali-Abdullah's heart has always been with children. She first spent eight years as a teacher, she has developed and implemented numerous programmes, projects and seminars for women and children, and she is president of the M2 Hope Foundation, a charity set up in honour of her parents to assist and inspire underprivileged children to realise their potential.
Ali-Abdullah and "Muslim woman+progress" are indeed synonymous, away from the opposite stereotyping that is at times attached to her faith. Today, she is a sought-after motivational speaker, facilitator and presenter.
Q: Tell us about your early years and your family.
A: I am the eldest of four girls. I had a very happy childhood growing up in a small, diverse community with three younger sisters who are my best friends. My parents came from a very modest background and saw education as a route to upward social mobility.Not having had the opportunity to be educated beyond primary school, my mother in particular ensured that we got a sound education as she viewed this as key to independence.
I have been married for 24 years to my soulmate and my number one supporter. My elder daughter is a fifth-year medical sciences student and a national scholarship winner, whilst my younger daughter is in high school and trying to decide whether she wants to be a lawyer or a fashion designer.
At what schools/institutions did you receive your education?
Lakshmi Girls' Hindu College and St Joseph's Convent, St Joseph. I graduated with distinction from Columbia University, NY, with a master's degree in Economic Policy Management after earning an honours degree in Economics from UWI, St Augustine.
What prepared you and led you to the Children's Authority?
The programme Economic Policy Management was reserved for socio-economic policymakers from across the globe...this training was critical to the work that I would do at the Ministry of Finance as an economist/acting senior economist in the preparation of the national budget and medium-term socio-economic plans.
My supervisor always assigned the social sectors to me, about which I did not complain. I had a huge interest in that sector, as economic growth without development is not sustainable. After leaving the Ministry of Finance, I took up a senior position at the then Tourism and Industrial Development Company Ltd (Tidco).
As manager of research my aim was to champion informed decision-making for investment, trade and tourism. The environment was fast-paced and exciting. Tidco provided me with numerous opportunities to develop professionally and to represent my country across the globe. During this stint, I visited many countries to promote T&T as a place to visit, invest and do business.
This international exposure provided me with insights into best practice and afforded me the opportunity to understand global dynamics and trends, and provided me with additional skills to assist Government with the development of the country's national strategic plan, Vision 2020. This plan is perhaps the most comprehensive strategy ever produced to move the country forward.
At the end of 2007, I was recruited as the senior co-ordinator in National Secretariat for the Fifth Summit of the Americas and the CHOGM, which were to be hosted in 2009. This was a huge challenge as it was a pioneering initiative. We were stretched and challenged but did a fine job particularly with the CHOGM, which earned us the distinction of being one of the better organised global meetings.
I had the honour of leading this country's delegation to the Commonwealth Secretariat as well as to Buckingham Palace to engage with the Commonwealth Secretariat and Palace Officials in the lead-up to CHOGM. It was also an opportunity to meet presidents and prime ministers from across the globe as well as HM Queen Elizabeth II.
I also co-ordinated the associated events namely the Commonwealth Youth Forum, the Commonwealth People's Forum and the Commonwealth Business Forum.
Whist these experiences have been life-changing, I believe I made the most significant impact as a teacher for some eight years at the start of my career. I also had a few short stints at the University of the West Indies. Teaching is a vocation and I thoroughly enjoyed working with the hundreds of teenagers in the many secondary schools where I taught. Being a few years older than my students, we connected easily.
Having been involved in creating and implementing programmes and activities for children and young people for most of my life and investing in their development, I was excited at the prospect of setting up a specialised agency to address children's issues. So I responded to the advertisement for the director's position and got the nod after a rigorous screening process.
While I had two job offers at the same time, I opted to take up the position as director of the Children's Authority as it was an easy fit for me. I had acquired strategic planning and project management skills, had the socio-economic technical training, exposure to international best practice, and connection to children and their issues.
I was surprised that the agency has not yet been set up as this was a policy initiative which was identified in earlier national development plans I had worked on at the Ministry of Finance and Planning. The board did an amazing amount of work, particularly the two chairmen, Justice Annestine Sealy and Stephanie Daly, SC, whose leadership and contribution must be acknowledged. It was time for an operational head to advance the work.
Child protection is not for the faint-hearted. I was offered condolences rather than congratulations,had to deal with some angry, frustrated, cynical stakeholders. People scoffed at our plans and optimism. But we pressed on and championed informed decision-making and engaged deeper in rigorous planning, conversing with mature child protection experts locally, regionally and internationally, collaborated with UNICEF and learnt from best practice.
And so, armed with the largely unproclaimed package of Children's Legislation and one OJT, foundation work done by two previous directors, we set out to recruit the small team of about ten pioneers, develop a strategic plan and expedite operationalisation of the authority. Six line ministers, three boards of management later–the authority is up and running.
What is the biggest challenge/need/priority at the Children's Authority?
Public expectation remains high, but this must be tempered with a recognition that the authority is only one agency in the child protection system–and that child protection is everybody's business. The child protection system has been broken for a long time and it is not an easy fix. Demand for services remain high as measured by the record number of cases received–over 2,500 inclusive of over 150 emergency cases.
The major issue remains the inadequate infrastructure required to support the Children's Authority and new child protection system–accommodation for children in conflict with the law, transition homes, facilities for children with special needs, therapeutic homes for children with mental illness, just to name a few. Referral services also need to be expanded to cater to the increased demand in child protection cases.
The recent placement of the authority under the Office of the Prime Minister signals that Government is serious about child protection and has accorded it among its highest priorities, and we welcome this move.
What is the role of the Children's Authority and what is your function there?
Children's Authority is at the heart of the new child protection system. It acts as the guardian of all children, championing their rights and safeguarding them from abuse and neglect. It also provides care and protection for those vulnerable and at risk. Among my key functions as director, I implement the decisions of the board, provide strategic direction, inspire my team, oversee line managers, monitor, evaluate and re-engineer operations, coach and collaborate with key stakeholders.
Tell us about your inspiration to do the type of "work" you do.
As a teacher I was bombarded with stories of abuse and the impact on my students. Issues affecting children and their families are at the heart of our social structure and if this foundation is unstable, then the society will be in disequilibrium and implode.
When our children are hurt or neglected and there is no treatment, they grow up to become angry, disempowered, disconnected adults who perpetuate the cycle of abuse. I am driven by the need to have children enjoy their childhood. I am inspired by the success we've seen with children received into care and their progress to date–some of whom are well on their way to leading productive, fulfilled lives.
I am motivated by the big hearted people who have come forward to care for children. I am heartened by the resilience of our children who bounce back after such horrific experiences.
How would you describe yourself?
Results-oriented, pragmatic and optimistic.
Who has influenced you the most (outside of your immediate family), in your career and in life in general?
Strong women–my grandmother, aunts, teachers, and towering and powerful women from the annals of history.
What daily motto/credo do you live by and what is your recipe for success?
Excellence in all things. Every good action done with the appropriate intention is an act of worship from which blessings accrue.
Describe yourself in two words, one beginning with S, the other with A, the initials of your name.
Strategic and action-oriented.