GREAT TRUST'S Current Programs Consist of the Following:
GREAT Trust distinguishes from orthodox policy think tanks with wads of publications and little impact, by being uniquely a ‘think and doing tank’. We therefore blend research and thought leadership with action programs to manifest outcome optimisation for stakeholders. In concert, the GREAT Trust's Programs currently consist of the following:
1 - Race Equality Advice, Advocacy, Lobbying & Representation: The GREAT Trust’s position on equalities is zero-tolerance of inlawful and unjustified discrimination. We therefore support the advancement of all strands of equalities. However, we contend that race discrimination remains the mother of all discriminations and this backed by a catalogue of the lived experience of ethnic minorities in the world. Beyond practice, racial discrimination is manifest in whole plethora of policies and strategies ranging from immigration to free but unfair trade. An ethnic minority is thus more likely to be subject to multiple-discrimination and -disadvantage than others. We hold that the post-racism tendency is counter-productive and leads to other forms of discrimination such as afrophobia. To the extend that race equality applications should be limited to the public sector is in itself discrimination within the enforcement of equalities. Advice, Advocacy, Lobbying and Representation through new platforms, paradigms and schools of thought have thus become imperative to achieve optimum outcomes for beneficiaries, most of whom are vulnerable and incapable of articulating their genuine views for fear of reprisals. Other agencies do not want to ask the crucial questions for fear of victimisation e.g. funding withdrawal etc. etc.
2 - Applied Research & Policy Program: To inform the advice, advocacy, lobbying and representation strands of our work, we undertake vital research either to confirm existing knowledge, note emerging changing trends or establish new knowledge. Themes range from the traditional remit of race equality discourse to new phenomena e.g. cyber-racism and afrophobia. We have also identified the urgency to move onto new frontiers of policy influence through proactive and robust engagement with these critical matters of human existence – race and human equality with a view to limit their exploitation, abuse and misuse for short-term political gains. Our research and policy program priorities are informed by the experential accounts of victims of racial abuse on one hand, and the legislative and strategic responses and priorities of policy makers.
3 - Race Equality & Human Rights Awareness Program: No one is born a bigot or a racist; they are man made. One of the biggest challenges of the old models of racial equality efforts is the fact that they have not proactively sought to change the thinking of people. Hardly do any programs target the mindset of the majority population. It is a fact that most prejudice is taught and nurtured from childhood through adulthood. It is equally a truism that unless the minds of racists are changed, the battle to eliminate racial prejudice and discrimination would remain elusive. GREAT Trust’s Awareness Program is thus a new approach to tackle race discrimination through a rennaisance and a causal model that addresses the causes of racial prejudice, highlights Global Citizenship as a logical progressional next step in the elimination of racial discrimination, integrated with the promotion of World Passport as a legitimate means of Global Citizenship Identity and Mobility.
4 - Standing Conference on Youth Affairs / Youth Leadership Bureau: GREAT Trust believes in the theme of ‘Youth for Race Equality & Human Rights’ more so because to make a difference, we must invest in the youth who are the leaders of tomorrow. A race equality educated youth is a benchmark for a more harmonious and peaceful future. GREAT Trust’s Youth Leadership Program comprises of an innovative Volunteers, Interns & Placements Program [VIP], Exchange Program, Summer Camps, Seminars, Workshops, Competitions and Mentoring Pograms.
5 - Liberation Social Enterprise Network: An Ethical Social Enterprise Forum that interweaves race equality, human rights into enterprise development and promotion. Through this forum, the GREAT Trust demonstrates that race equality and human rights could actually drive enterprise development and more successfully than otherwise. This is an innovative model of ethical wealth creation which runs at odds with the orthodox solely profit oriented model with its attendant inhuman practices.
6 - Conflict Prevention, Resolution & Peace Program: GREAT Trust believes that unlike mainstream models of enormously costly post-conflict resolution efforts, prevention is better than cure. For starters, our new models of awareness generating programs contribute to conflict prevention and expected to reduce conflicts signficantly. Thbis means that the horror, carnage and long term devastation characteristic of conflicts would be reduced, making uncessary huge post conflict reconstruction.
7 - Institution Building – Financial, Governance & Sustainable Fundraising: In an era of globalisation, Capacity Building processes at both individual and personal levels are important to remain competitive. We also consider that education and skills are rights but not privileges. We will therefore develop a suite of generic and bespoke capacity building programs to assist agencies and individuals to develop robust and healthy cultures.
8 - International Institute of Race Equality & Human Rights Practitioners – IIREHRP: To reinforce the critical nature of the need to protect race equality and human rights, GREAT Trust is developing this International Membership Organisation to create a common platform for sharing practitioner experiences and formulating strategies to better influence optimum outcomes for global citizens as well as protect practitioners from victimisation.
9 - Ethical Low Cost Real Estate Program: GREAT Trust considers the right to a home one of the fundamental entitlements of every global citizen, alongside employment, food, education and health. This programme investigates for implementation an innovative model of provisioning global citizens with decent housing different from mainstream commercialisation of homes entitlement rights.
10 – International Race Equality & Diversity Quality Assurance: GREAT Trust establishes the inconceivability of quality assurance standards covering aspects of human life other than the human race itself, of which we are all members of. Similar to Investors In People and ISO 2020, the GREAT Trust will research and develop an international race equality and diversity quality assurance system in league with relevant international bodies such as the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union, Organisation of American States, Nobel Foundation, the International Monetary Fund and World Bank etc. This would encapsulate elements to enhance compliance with relevant aspects of the UN Declaration of Human Rights, CERD etc. and institute a quality mark that national governments and their constituent stakeholders should adopt as evidence of best practice.
