A Grand Islamic Parade paved the way for Eid-Lil-Aulad Celebrations observed on Sunday at the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO), Woolford Avenue.
The event, primarily a celebration for children, was sponsored by the Bait-ur-Rhama Islamic Organisation and is generally observed a week after Eid-ul-Fitr .
Before the official ceremony, the gathering of over 200 children and adults assembled at the Queenstown Jumua’h Masjid’s compound on Church Street for the parade to the MYO.
In his address at the occasion, Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Dr.Frank Anthony, implored all of the young people in attendance to take the time to reflect on the meaning of the celebrations while enjoying the festivities.
To the adults present, the Minister said, “Children in our homes, families and communities are a blessing, and we need to take the time to pay attention to how we influence and nurture them into becoming good adults.”
Dr. Anthony also stressed the importance of education towards personal development and for the development of the nation as well.
He advocated, “Take advantage of the opportunities you have now; education is free and this is so because the Government has a policy of ensuring that every child gets an education.”
The Minister pointed out that, to facilitate the accessibility of education to everyone, the Government of Guyana has spent close to $20B on education already.
In light of this, he emphasized the importance of parents ensuring that their children attend school at all levels.
“If you want a ticket out of poverty, then you should get a good education,” he stated.
President of the CIOG, Haji Fazil Ferouze, echoed the Minister’s call to place more emphasis on the importance of education.
He charged parents to ensure that their children remain focused and disciplined to be able to grasp all the opportunities available in the country to be successful.
Haji Fazil Ferouze also pointed out that a lot of work still needs to be done to motivate the young people in society to continue to strive for excellence.
“As future leaders of our country and our communities, you need to understand the roles and responsibilities you play,” he stated.
After the feature address, those gathered were treated to a variety of sweet meats and a fun-filled day of celebrations.