PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Former Secretary of State of the United States, General Colin L. Powell, USA (Retired) and Alma Powell, Chair of the America’s Promise Alliance, have accepted Prime Minister the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s invitation to visit Trinidad and Tobago on April 9-10, 2011, to celebrate the launch of Trinidad and Tobago’s National Structured Mentoring Program.
General and Mrs. Powell have been actively involved in providing support to young people through the America’s Promise Alliance.
Founded in 1997 with General Powell as Chairman, and chaired today by Alma Powell, America’s Promise Alliance is a cross-sector partnership of more than 400 corporations, nonprofits, faith-based organizations and advocacy groups that are passionate about improving lives and changing outcomes for children.
The Alliance has made a top priority of ensuring that all young people graduate from high school ready for college/university, work and life.
Its work involves raising awareness, encouraging action and engaging in advocacy to provide children the key supports called the Five Promises: Caring Adults, Safe Places, A Healthy Start, An Effective Education and Opportunities to Help Others.
The Ministry of National Security’s National Structured Mentoring Program taps into the expertise of trained professionals, as well as volunteers, who will be properly trained to be mentors to our nation’s youth.
Prime Minister the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar is delighted and honoured that General and Mrs. Powell have agreed to generously donate their time and expertise to the Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago in this noble venture.
The United States Government is also a partner with the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in other youth development initiatives.
