Guyana Update is a monthly newsletter on IYV activities in Guyana. What's happened at IYV and other partner organisations, activities that have taken place and upcoming activities and events.

Click here for the Volume 7 - September - October, 2002 (264K in PDF )
 

Vol 6 July August 2001

WHAT’S HAPPENED! Community Based Rehabilitation – Hopeful Steps Volunteer Awards  The Guyana Community based Rehabilitation Programme, as part of its 9th Annual National Conference, on Saturday 14, July presented awards to outstanding volunteers. The CBR Programme trains volunteers, teachers and health and social workers to work with persons with disabilities (PWDs) and their families. The Programme aims at promoting community involvement and participation of PWDs and their families in meeting their own needs within local communities, developing their self-esteem and self-reliance and their integration into the mainstreem of society. This project focuses on vision, hearing, and speech; movement and learning.  This project since its commencement on August 16, 1985, now operates in six of Guyana’s ten administrative regions – regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9.  IYV Presentations - Networking The IYV presentation continues to be standard in our networking process. It has proved to be quite useful in establishing contacts and collaborations with volunteer based organizations.  During this period some of the groups and resulting activities included:  Guyana Shield Media Project – an environmental media Project  with a focus on the Guyana Shield region of South America.  The project is undertaken by Black eye International with funding   from the Worldwide fund for Nature WWF and the International  Union for the conservation of Nature IUCN Netherlands.  Together we produced a video on World Environmental Day observations in Guyana featuring the Environmental Protection Agencies School Clubs and volunteer lead activities in Linden Region 10.  Mother Om Mission -  On July 10, Maya Ma began training local community instructors in Wise Earth’s holistic education programme for HIV/Aids and Cancer Care. The programme included herbal therapy, nutrition, yoga, meditation and chanting was offered free of charge to community members who will intern mobilize these charitable education and services into their communities to promote wholesome lifestyles and good health.    Young Women’s Christian Association Ms. Denise Parris of the YWCA sought collaboration with the IYV Committee for the YWCA’s Women of Distinction Awards. The awards are scheduled for early 2002 and aims to recognize outstanding women in Guyana in areas of health, Arts and Culture, Business and professions, Communications, Science and Technology, Community and Public Service, Education, Sports and Well being, and special categories – Young Woman of Distinction, Mother of Distinction and Lifetime Achievement.  The Guyana IYV 2001 Committee applauds the Y for establishing the Women of Distinction Awards Scheme.  Youth in Development – a recently formed group of young people between the ages of 14 – 30 focusing on influencing public policy through the promotion and awareness of social issues affecting youth and making equitable representation to enhance youth development.  YID expressed their interest in partnering in IYV activities as they specifically related to Youth. This resulted in the proposal for a Guyana Youth Forum. Which would explore issues highlighted in the Youth Forum Dakar 2001 i.e. empowerment, volunteerism and specifically for Guyana understanding the regional administration system. Funding for this forum is currently being sought.    Regional Meetings  Given the unique geography of Guyana and the necessity to share the objectives of IYV, Regional Consultations were initiated in order to consult and explore, with a large cross section of regionally based NGO’s, community-based organizations and individuals, the objectives of IYV 2001 and to form a Regional Volunteer Committee and a Regional Youth Volunteer Committee to facilitate the aims of IYV and celebrate IYV within the region.  The Guyana Committee with assistance from Regional Youth & Sports Officers and local Volunteer Based Organisations   (VBOs)/NGOs to date arranged several forums for consultation on IYV in the regions 10 – Linden, 6 – Corriverton, Orealla and New Amsterdam. Regional/ District volunteer committees and a regional/district volunteer youth committees were formed as focal points for continued action i.e. implementation of IYV initiatives/ advocacy/training/ dissemination of information etc.  It is the vision of the Guyana IYV 2001 Committee that these representatives from the district committees would form regional committees, with representation of the National Volunteer Committee, which will be the focal point for volunteer administration and support beyond 2001.  Region 10  The Linden Forum was held on Friday 3rd August with over sixty persons attending. Participants were from various NGO and CBO groups in Linden and its immediate environs. The session was well received with persons extremely interested in streamlining volunteers for community development activities.  The committees were formed with seven members per committee. The Youth committee would plan an activity for the UNICEF Say Yes for Children Campaign in Linden and the general committee identified a massive clean up – environmental campaign to recognize and promote volunteerism in Linden.  Region 6 Three forums were held in Region 6. The first on Thursday 23rd August in Corriverton/ Upper Corentyne. The Roadside Baptist Church Skills Training Centre facilitated this meeting and seventy-five persons attended. Again the response was overwhelming. The Committees were formed and they would commence the planning of the volunteer day celebrations in Corriverton. The celebrations are to include volunteer awards and a volunteer directory - the documentation of volunteer groups in the area to foster networking.  Fifty miles up the Corentyne river to Orealla … Friday 24th August ….under the benab with over thirty villagers, merely endorsing their way of living. All Amerindian communities thrive on village work – volunteerism. They welcomed the information and requested support in organizing themselves to plan and mobilize resources for community development projects.  These included erecting a water trestle for the health center, expanding the community benab and creation of a children’s play area.  The Town of New Amsterdam, Monday 27th August. The Ministry of Culture Youth & Sport regional Officer, Brian King facilitated this forum. Twenty plus persons attended. A grand environmental campaign was decided upon to observe volunteerism and at the same time encourage others to participate in the community project.  Region 9  Village Captains of Region 9 had their village meeting in July. T the invitation of UNICEF, IYV coordinator participated in this meeting and had a chance to consult with the village captains and village representatives on an IYV activity to observe IYV in the region. The Captains proposed Volunteer awards – certificates for those who have always participated in village work/self help. Nominations were then invited from the communities and the presentation was proposed for September 18 – 21 Amerindian Heritage Month Celebration in Region 9 Rupununi.    World Leaders Build This year as part of its 25th Anniversary celebrations, Habitat for Humanity Guyana joined habitat country offices world over to sponsor the World Leaders Build August 5 – 11, 2001. In the Guyana the Blitz Build involved erecting eleven houses. The president of Guyana Hon. Bharrat Jagdeo himself volunteers along with Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Minister of Housing and Water Mr. Shiek Baskh and several other renowned leaders in Guyana from the armed forces, churches and Embassies including US Ambassador Ronald Goddard and his wife. Women leaders from various women organizations erected one house and youths from youth groups erected another.  Eleven families stand to benefit from this Blitz Build. WHAT’S NEXT? Regional Summits Regional meetings continue in Region 6 Berbice – Port Maurant September 2 and Region 7 Bartica, November 6.    Say Yes for Children…. Children’s rally September 13, Linden Region 10.  Volunteer Awards…. St. Ignatius, Rupununi, Region 9, September 21 … as part of Amerindian heritage Month celebrations.