THE Golden Om Dharmic Youth Organisation, established 13 years ago in Berbice, plans to renovate the Vocational, Educational and Dharmic Academy (VEDA) Centre at Reliance, East Canje, next year.

The organisation, which is the East Berbice youth arm of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, is, currently, in the process of soliciting funds from the general public to commence the project, which is estimated to cost $12M.
Last Thursday, the founder of the group, Pandit Chandradatt Persaud, its President, Deodat Persaud and Secretary, Vishwani Persaud, hosted a media conference to inform of their plans to resuscitate the centre for the benefit of the wider community.
It was stated that, since the establishment of the VEDA Centre, no major enhancement was undertaken and some amount of deterioration took place on some sections of the building.
The 2014 undertaking, which is branded ‘Reliance VEDA Resuscitation Project’, will be done in two phases.
Phase one will see an upper flat being erected to be used as an office, for indoor games, classrooms for dancing, yoga, singing and cooking, a counseling- room, library, computer and document centre, vegetarian cafe, sargam shop and washroom facilities.

Cultural centre
Phase two would see the lower flat being transformed into a modern cultural centre.
Pandit Persaud, in his appeal for support, said the VEDA Centre served the general public over the years and many persons have encountered life changing experiences through it.
“The thought that this building is a little outdated prompted us to get it modernised, because children would like to be taught in a safe and conducive environment and we found that this is inadequate, so we will be going on a campaign to assist us in transforming it with the help of the public,” he explained.
The pandit also assured that the donated funds will be well accounted for, since systems have been put in place to monitor all collections and expenditures.
The other Persaud echoed the sentiments of the Founder and indicated that the grouping will be staging many fund-raising activities to supplement the finances that are expected to be from donations.
He said:”I am appealing to the public to support this worthy venture and any amount of contribution will be accepted. This building here, never benefitted Hindus alone and I am sure that everyone will appreciate that they can all play a part in developing this centre where they can access services.”
To date, the sum of $41,000 has been raised and an account has been opened at Republic Bank, where money  can be deposited and further information could be gleaned by calling telephone numbers 327-7967,327-2212,326-0178 and 326-0976 or email: goldenomdharmic@yahoo.com and even on Facebook.
The youth leaders also took the opportunity to announce their 2013 Summer Programme.
A computer class will be conducted from July 8 to 24 from 17:00hrs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for persons 12 years and above.
There is also a Hindu Youth Week which commences with a ride-a-ton from Reliance, East Canje to King Street, New Amsterdam on July 13 and the painting of the New Forest Mandir on the July 14 that coincides with a live television programme to discuss the ‘Role of Hindu Youths’.
             
One-day camps
The 13th annual VEDA Camp will be held from July 29 to August 2 at Reliance and there would be various one-day camps for mandirs across East Canje from August 6 to 8.
A food sale in New Amsterdam on August 10 and a Youth Talent Mela on August 25 at the VEDA Centre before the activities conclude with a ‘Saraswatie Pooja’ for schoolchildren at the Reliance Settlement Mandir on August 31.
The history of the Golden Om Dharmic Youth Organisation dates back to its establishment in 2000 and continues to grow through the input of the recently elected President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Dr. Vindhya Vasini Persaud.
At present it has 23 members and the key advisers are Pandit Persaud, Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne)  Vice-Chairman Bhupaul Jhagroo and entrepreneur Jenny Bhookmohan.
The current executive comprises Pandit Deodat Persaud (President), Anup Jhagroo (Vice-President), Deokie Ramlochan and Vishwani Persaud (Secretaries), Chandradat Seepersaud and Dhawantri Persaud (Treasurers); and Raymond Jaundoo, Sevanie Bridgenarine and Amit Subramanian (Organising Secretaries).