DIGICEL Guyana on Wednesday officially handed over a building to the Buxton Youth Developers in Buxton, East Coast Demerara.
More than 160 children from the area are already enrolled for literacy classes at the facility. The building which is fully equipped with furniture and living quarters for the founder, Robin Phillips, was handed over when Digicel Head of Marketing, Jacqueline James, switched on the lights of the building signalling its commissioning.
The Digicel team, including James, Gavin Hope, Sponsorship and Events Manager and Public Relations Manager, Shonette Moore, was greeted with a loud applause from the students on Wednesday.
James encouraged the children to study hard, read a lot, and look at the TV news to see what is going on in the country, attend school regularly and do their homework in order to become successful.
She also advised the children to take care of the building and furniture and thanked them for letting Digicel into their lives.
The founder of the Buxton Youth Developers, Robin Phillips, told the gathering that he is indeed pleased and appreciative of the kind gesture by Digicel in making the completion of the building successful.
Phillips said, “With Digicel’s input, it is a vision realised since we have been praying for such a building in which the children can come and learn something which will assist in their educational development.”
He added that with the opening of the building he will re-start classes from 15:00hrs daily, catering for children between the ages of six and 17 years and school drop-outs among others.
Phillips noted that presently they have enrolled more than 160 children from Buxton and its environs, who will be schooled by nine volunteers in sports, literacy and culture.
In addition, he said that Digicel also donated 50 combination chairs for which he is grateful.
Meanwhile, Patron of the Buxton Youth Developers, Lenny Shuffler said that they have been in existence for five years, and classes were conducted at the old market in Buxton.
He noted that approval was given for sourcing finance from several organizations, including CIDA’s Canada Fund for Local Initiatives and the Rotary Club of Stabroek; and they also engaged in the Buy a Block Campaign.