Preserving Our Heritage. Building Their Future.
Help us transform the historic Tunapuna Old Post Office into ROOTS CAFÉTT – Creative Academy for EduTainmenT, a Youth-Friendly Learning Commons where underserved youth and adults can develop skills, gain recognized certification and create pathways to employment, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning.
This is more than restoring a building. We are preserving our heritage while building their future.
CAMPAIGN PROGRESS
TT$1,000,000 Goal
WHERE HERITAGE MEETS HOPE
A Landmark with a New Purpose
For generations, the historic Tunapuna Old Post Office served as a place of connection linking people, families and communities. Today, ROOTS Foundation is working to give this heritage landmark a new purpose.
ROOTS CAFÉTT – Creative Academy for ÉduTainmenT will transform the building into a Youth-Friendly Learning Commons where education, creativity, culture, technology, skills development, mentorship, and entrepreneurship come together.
By restoring this historic building, we are not simply preserving the past. We are creating a place where young people and adults can develop recognised skills, gain certification, discover new opportunities and build pathways to employment and entrepreneurship.
A building that once connected a community through communication will now connect a new generation to opportunity.
WHY THIS CAMPAIGN MATTERS
Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not.
Across Trinidad and Tobago, talented young people and adults possess creativity, experience and potential, but many lack accessible pathways to recognised training, certification, employment and entrepreneurship.
ROOTS CAFÉTT is being developed to help close that gap.
Through an integrated model combining Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR), digital learning, creative arts, mentorship and entrepreneurship, the Academy will create alternative pathways for people whose potential may not always be realised through traditional education systems.
EDUCATION
Build knowledge, practical skills and recognised competencies.
EMPLOYMENT
Develop workforce-ready skills and pathways to meaningful work.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Turn talent, creativity and competencies into enterprise opportunities.
ENHANCEMENT
Strengthen confidence, personal development, leadership and lifelong learning.
WHAT YOUR SUPPORT WILL BUILD
TT$1 Million to Restore a Heritage Landmark
Our first priority is the building itself.
The TT$1 million fundraising campaign is based on a professional renovation Scope of Works prepared for the historic Tunapuna Old Post Office by a contractor listed with the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago. The estimated cost of the works is TT$1,036,687.50 inclusive of VAT.
PREPARE
Site preliminaries, supervision and enabling works.
RESTORE THE EXTERIOR
Walls, roof soffits, timber trims, windows, doors, awnings, metalwork and external surfaces.
REHABILITATE THE INTERIOR
Floors, walls, ceilings, doors, staircases and damaged structural timber components.
UPGRADE ESSENTIAL SERVICES
Electrical and plumbing works, sanitary fixtures, kitchen facilities and other essential building services.
THE WORK HAS BEGUN
Restoration and refurbishment are already underway at the historic Tunapuna Old Post Office. The exposed timber structure and ongoing works show both the scale of the restoration required and the progress already being made toward preparing the building for ROOTS CAFÉTT.
It takes a village.
Different people. Different contributions. One shared vision.
We need 329 people across Trinidad and Tobago and the Diaspora to come together to help raise the TT$1,036,687.50 needed to complete the restoration of the historic Tunapuna Old Post Office.
“Many hands make light work.”
329 people can carry it together.
Will you be one of the 329?
Before we can equip classrooms, deliver training or welcome learners, we must first make the building ready.
WHAT COMES NEXT: ACTIVATING THE ACADEMY
Once the building is restored and ready for use, the next phase will focus on activating ROOTS CAFÉTT as a fully functioning Learning Commons.
EQUIP
Furniture, technology, training tools and audiovisual equipment.
CONNECT
Internet, digital infrastructure and blended-learning resources.
TEACH
Training materials and practical learning resources.
CERTIFY
Assessment and recognised certification pathways.
INCLUDE
Access and support for underserved youth and adults.
SUSTAIN
Build the partnerships, systems and resources needed to keep the Academy operating and growing.
HELP US RESTORE THE FUTURE
Every contribution brings us one step closer to opening the doors of ROOTS CAFÉTT.
Your contribution to the TT$1 Million Restoration Campaign will help fund the rehabilitation of the historic Tunapuna Old Post Office and prepare it for its new life as a Youth-Friendly Learning Commons.
TT$100 or US$15
Be part of the restoration.
TT$250 or US$40
Help move the restoration forward.
TT$500 or US$75
Invest in bringing the building back to life.
TT$1,000 or US$150
Make a significant contribution to the restoration.
TT$5,000 or US$750
Become a major supporter of the transformation.
GIVE ANY AMOUNT
Every contribution moves us closer to opening the doors.
YOUR GIFT. THEIR FUTURE.
TT$1,036,687.50 – Estimated Restoration Cost
TT$1,000,000 – Campaign Goal
TT$0 – Raised to Date
Give securely in TTD or USD through the ROOTS Foundation WiPay Business account.
CORPORATE & INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS
Invest in Heritage. Invest in the Future.
Corporate partners have a unique opportunity to support the transformation of the historic Tunapuna Old Post Office into ROOTS CAFÉTT – Creative Academy for ÉduTainmenT while potentially benefiting from Trinidad and Tobago’s Heritage Tax Allowance Programme (HTAP).
ROOTS CAFÉTT is an officially endorsed HTAP project – TPR2025-001.
Companies contributing cash or in-kind support to an endorsed project could be entitled to a tax allowance equal to 150% of expenditure, up to a maximum of TT$1 million per year, subject to the requirements and approval process of the Heritage Tax Allowance Programme.
CONTRIBUTE
Make a financial contribution towards the restoration and adaptive reuse of the Tunapuna Old Post Office.
PROVIDE
Contribute approved materials, supplies, professional services or other in-kind support required for the restoration.
PARTNER
Become a corporate or institutional partner in transforming an important heritage landmark into a Learning Commons.
INVEST IN IMPACT
Help create the physical foundation from which education, certification, employment and entrepreneurship pathways can grow.
150% TAX ALLOWANCE | UP TO TT$1 MILLION PER YEAR | CASH OR IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS
ACCOUNTABILITY & TRANSPARENCY
Your Support. Our Responsibility.
Every contribution to the TT$1 Million Restoration Campaign represents an investment of trust.
ROOTS Foundation is committed to ensuring that funds raised are applied responsibly toward the restoration and rehabilitation of the historic Tunapuna Old Post Office, and that supporters can follow the progress their contributions are helping to make.
FUNDS RAISED
Campaign updates will show the amount raised against the TT$1 million restoration goal.
FUNDS APPLIED
Updates will show how campaign funds are being applied to the restoration and rehabilitation works.
WORK COMPLETED
Key restoration milestones will be documented through project updates, photographs and progress reports.
NEXT MILESTONE
Supporters will be able to see what has been completed and what remains as we work toward making the building ready for ROOTS CAFÉTT.
FROM CONTRIBUTION TO COMPLETION
Campaign Goal → Funds Raised → Restoration Works → Milestones Completed → Building Ready
Our commitment is simple: show what was raised, show where it went, and show what it accomplished.
Campaign Status Updated: [date]
HELP US OPEN THE DOORS
A Building Restored. A Future Opened.
For generations, the Tunapuna Old Post Office connected people and communities.
Now, together, we can give this historic landmark a new purpose – a place where young people and adults can discover their potential, develop recognised skills and build pathways to education, employment and entrepreneurship.
We are raising TT$1 million to make the building ready.
Every contribution brings us closer to opening the doors of ROOTS CAFÉTT.
Preserving Our Heritage. Building Their Future.
DONATE
Every contribution, large or small, moves the restoration forward.
SHARE
Help carry this campaign across Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and the Diaspora.
PARTNER
Join us as a corporate, institutional or community partner in transforming this heritage landmark.
TT$1,000,000 Campaign Goal | Every Contribution Matters
The building is part of our history. What happens inside it can become part of their future.