REPRESENTATIVES of three Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) recently poured out their gratitude to the Governments of Guyana and Japan for helping them to make a genuine difference in the lives of people.The Japanese Government, in recognition of the need to support and empower youth, especially those who are vulnerable, issued grants to the Special Needs for Life Inc., Habitat for Humanity (Guyana) and the Roadside Baptist Church Skills Training Centre to the tune of US$290,000.

Chief Executive Officer of the Roadside Baptist Church Skills Training Centre, Yetrawatee Katryan, in expressing thanks to the two governments, said the work of the church is geared towards improving the lives of at-risk youth, women, children and the elderly through education, income generating skills training and social services.
The US$90,000 awarded to the church will go towards a project entitled: “The Renovating of the Roadside Baptist Church Skills Training Centre”.
Under the project, the church’s outdoor auditorium will be renovated and a shed destroyed by storm last year will be rebuilt. The ceiling, walls and furniture in the shed would be repaired while a portion of the money will go towards the enhancement of services in the information technology laboratory, library and office.
The auditorium, which was built in 1997, has provided services to thousands of Berbicians over the years but exposure to elements of the weather has taken a toll on it, to the point where no amount of fixing and patching could be of any help.
“It was the desire year by year to replace the roof and renovate the structure. That dream will become a reality now, much to the relief of the team and the beneficiaries, less stress and moving around furniture when it rains, no more fear in cleaning and someone slipping and sliding, and yes, our neighbours can now be breathing a sigh of relief,” Katryan said.
In 1998, the Japanese Embassy also helped the Roadside Baptist Church Skills Training Centre in establishing an information technology laboratory, the first on the Corentyne, Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne).

BENEFITTING THOUSANDS
The Chief Executive Officer reported that the project is still in operation, pointing out that it has prepared thousands of youths over the years for jobs and higher education.
Last December, with the support of the Labour Ministry, some 40 young people were trained in IT and computer maintenance. And Katryan said that like the IT project, the new grant assistance will benefit thousands in the years ahead.
Habit for Humanity Guyana National Director Andrew Small also praised the two governments for their support, and gave thanks to God for providing the Habitat team with the energy and foresight to create positive change.
The US$100,000 given to Habitat for Humanity will be used to construct a Habitat for Humanity Resource Centre, and Small said he is looking forward to see the project come to fruition.
While many know Habitat for building homes for families in need, the organisation also has a very vibrant youth volunteer programme.
CREATIVE THINKING SKILLS
“It is through this programme we will be developing a programme in Linden focused on teaching young people creative thinking skills to reframe how they see issues in their communities and empowering them with the thinking tools to be able to come up with projects and solutions to their challenges,” Small said.
According to him, the project is the first of its kind in Guyana, and Habitat will be providing support during the implementation stage as well as afterwards.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer at Special Needs for Life Inc., Mark Adams, pointed out that the NGO enjoys a healthy relationship with the Government of Japan.

The US$99,000 project to construct the Bina Hill Indigenous Youth Skill Training Centre follows the successful implementation of an initiative on deaf education and the teaching of the deaf culture at Kilcoy, Corentyne.
EDUCATING AMERINDIAN YOUTH
Adams described the awarding of the grant as a joyous occasion, pointing out that the Special Needs for Life Inc. has been making great effort to educate Amerindian youth in special skills peculiar to their communities.
He said the NGO has been moving Amerindians out of South Guyana to the coast for education and training, but many do not return to serve their communities.
However, he noted that through the Bina Hill Indigenous Youth Skill Training Centre, this problem will be addressed.
He also encouraged Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett to continue to support Amerindian micro-enterprise initiatives wherever they crop up, contending that in southern Guyana, there are a lot of initiatives from youth ages 16 to 25 that need support, and should be supported.
These projects, Adams said, can do a whole lot to lift the socio-economic welfare of the people there.
And Minister Rodrigues-Birkett noted that the Government has been giving quite a lot of support to micro-credit initiatives, pointing out that the first was in North Rupununi, which was extended to Region 1 (Barima-Waini).
“I am also aware that all of the Amerindian communities have what they call a Community Development Plan, so this is another way in which we channel resources from the Government to ensure we have sustainable communities. We have a long way to go, but once we plant the seed, it will grow and I believe the seed has been planted,” the Minister said.

(By Tajeram Mohabir)