|
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome to the ATprojects web site, we hope that the information published here will not only be informative, but also make interesting and enjoyable reading. If you would like to know more about what we do or offer any assistance, please feel free to contact us.
ATprojects Objectives & Purpose
As an incorporated association, ATprojects is a non-profit
making body governed by a constitution, and the stated objectives and
purposes of the association as per our constitution are:
(a) To increase people's economic power by improving their access to technologies appropriate to their skills, incomes and environments.
(b) To assist community based initiatives that help rural people to improve their standard of living.
(c) To promote projects that ensure the equal access of women as well as men to resources, services and training.
(d) To carry out practical project work across all aspects of small-scale production, project identification, planning and funding.
(e) To offer advice and assistance to communities, NGOs and governments. And also raise public awareness of issues that affect rural development, in order to create a favorable climate for change.
(f) To appoint, employ, remove or suspend such committee and servant and other person as may be necessary or convenient for the purposes of the association
(g) To print and publish in the newspapers and any other periodicals, books or leaflets what the association may think desirable for the promotion of its objectives;
(h) To invest and deal with the money of the association not immediately required in such a manner as may be resolved upon;
(i) To apply its profits (if any) or other income of the association in promoting its objectives; and
(j) To do all such other things as are incidental or conductive to the attainment of the objects of the association.
Non-Profit
Given that ATprojects is working in the area of rural
development, we feel that it is important to outline what the
association views as the term "non-profit". The PNG government will
not allow any association to be registered without the following
clause in its constitution:
"The Association will apply its profits (if any) or other income in promoting its objects".
This clause clearly allows ATprojects to become involved in profit making ventures, but also limits the way in which any profit can be used. The constitution also goes go on to say:
"The Association will prohibit the payment of any dividend or payment in the nature of a dividend to its members".
Given the nature of donor funding, the Board of ATprojects sees the need to generate its "own" funding by way of:
The above list will be expanded as the Board becomes aware of other appropriate options of generating income. It is important to understand that ATprojects (like other NGOs in PNG) is under pressure for the donor community to become "self funding" as donors will not and in most cases, can not commit to long term funding support for general operational costs. Therefore, ATprojects has to look at developing its income base. In this regard, perhaps the best way of describing ATprojects is: "an incorporated association offering rural development services at an affordable cost and that all surplus income is used to promote the aims of the association"
Legal Status
ATprojects is an incorporated association as provided for
under the "Papua New Guinea Association Incorporation Act" This Act
provides a vehicle for NGOs like ATprojects to become registered as
non-profit making bodies and at the same time it allows the PNG
Government the opportunity to review and monitor NGOs. Under
ATprojects constitution, the association is managed by an executive
committee (also known as the Board). The functions and powers of the
executive committee are:
(a) to control and manage the affairs of the Association;
(b) to exercise all such functions as may be exercised by the Association other than those functions that are required by this constitution; and
(c) has the powers to perform all such acts and do all such things as appear to the committee to be necessary or desirable for the proper management of the affairs of the Association.
Web Site
This web site also provides some general information on
the day-to-day operations of ATprojects. This information will be
up-dated from time to time. We look forward to hearing from you, as
we feel that your ideas and views on development here in PNG can help
us develop our program.
|
|
|