The U.S.-based Green Light Guyana Education Project (GGEP), on its third annual humanitarian mission to Guyana, last week made presentations of complete school uniforms, along with back-packs containing books and other educational tools to hundreds of pupils on the West Bank Demerara, Region Three.

The children were drawn from La Retraite, Nismes and Bagotville Primary Schools, adopted by that organisation which takes an active role in ensuring their  basic educational and psycho-social needs are met, and that they are moulded into well-rounded pupils and ultimately citizens of whom their families and wider communities can be justly proud.

GGEP President, Salome Osborne presents a back pack with school supplies to a student of Nismes primary School.

Making the presentations to the more than 325 children were President of  GGEP-Ms. Salome Osborne of  New York; her Education Consultant – Ms. Liz Best of Baltimore, Maryland; and Ms. Ngazi Osborne – support staff member, of Bagotville. Ms Osborne and Ms Best travelled to Guyana specially to undertake this engagement in which they take much pride.

The presentations were made at all three schools throughout Thursday, and had the support of parents, headmasters and teachers, along with members of the schools’ Parent Teacher Associations.

In a moving show of appreciation, the beneficiaries and their support groups, apart from literally saying “Thank you” to the donors, staged a heartwarming impromptu programme at the La Retraite Primary School with a praise service, and regaled their guests-of-honour with a spirited talent show. 

Education Consultant – Liz Best  poses with winner of the 2008 Reading Competition – Jaleel Roberts of Nismes Primary School, who read 78 books during the summer vacation.

A true and patriotic ‘daughter of Guyana’s soil’,  Salome Osborne, who more than 24 years ago migrated to the United States of America, has served in many positions of responsibility through the years, including a top position with the prestigious Morgan Stanley on New York’s Wall Street – one of the World’s foremost financial institutions. For 20 years she served that company with distinction, beginning at entry level in 1986 and retiring in 2006 as Vice President of Retirement Plan Operations.

And just what is it that would cause her to yearly invest in such a project in Guyana, instead of taking a cruise around the world, or to famous places of interest now that she is retired? The answer is her deep and abiding concern and close affinity to the less fortunate children, and a burning desire to ensure they are not made vulnerable to the ills of society that now loom large”.

GreenLight Guyana Education Project was the brainchild of Ms. Osborne who, about four years ago, on one of her trips home, observed that many children of the countryside communities of West Demerara, stayed at home for the first few weeks of school. Her enquires led her to find out that those children did so because their parents could not afford to provide them with school uniforms and books for the new term.  And so the work of GreenLight is in direct response to that need.

“My biggest reward is for children to come to school and learn…Teachers, make sure the children are prepared to learn,” she admonished.

Ms. Best addresses the gathering during one of the presentation ceremonies.

Supporting this desire in other tangible ways that would make the school environment student-friendly and conducive to learning, GGEP has already financed the construction and installation of steel grills to enhance security at the Nismes Primary School. The organisation is considering landscaping and fencing the school compound which is bombarded by stray cattle.  Plans are also on the cards for starting a feeding programme for the La Retraite and Nismes Primary Schools where pupils can get a hot meal – initially twice per week. Osborne observed that it is difficult for children to learn when they are hungry.

But even as the group is prepared to be of help, they are now partnering with the parents to inculcate in them – an attitude of self reliance and self-sufficiency.  Education Consultant Liz Best, who is now on her second visit to Guyana after migrating more than 41 years ago, is planning an education intervention for parents, which would initially address three core competencies: customer service; empowering women to realise their potential and become self-sufficient; and understanding what makes students stay in school, and working towards providing that motivation.

Best, a dynamic change agent, is Founder – Best Writing and Consulting Services, Inc;  Former Host of the Liz Best Online Talk Show, and Managing Editor of Scam and Fraud Alert – a national consumer newsletter featured on CNN, among other things.

Another area of focus by the group is – teaching children the importance of being able to ‘ feel good about themselves’.