MIBICURI Community Developers recently became the beneficiaries of a US$101,275 Japanese Government grant, which will enable the non- government organisation to expand its structural facilities to better serve the Black Bush Polder community on the Corentyne.At the signing ceremony, held at one of the four polders within the agriculture-based community on Monday, Japanese Ambassador to Guyana, Yoshimasa Tezuka, noted that the project has received funding under the Japan Grant for Grass Root Human Security Projects. It is expected to be used for expanding and remodeling the vocational training and early childhood centre facilities in the Community Development Centre.

“I have no doubt that this project truly addresses basic human needs and we are very pleased that we can assist through the GGP.”
Addressing the audience in the cramped lower flat of the two-storey building which houses the non- government organisation, the Ambassador noted that Japan and Guyana have longed benefitted from friendly relations.

“In fact, this year we are celebrating the Japan CARICOM Friendship Year 2014, which marks 20 years since the first Japan-CARICOM Consultation in 1993 and this project is a good indicator of the strength of our relations,” he added.

Meanwhile, in a brief overview, Project Coordinator Ms Meshana Jordan informed the invitees that the lack of skills training and recreation for youths and residents had been cited as a major contributor to the high rate of suicide and other social issues in the polders.
Consequently, the NGO recognises the need to expand services to a wider cross-section of the target population but could not provide such needs due to the limited space and resources.

“Mibicuri Community Developers having remodelled and expanded the building, residents will now have increased access and training within their own community.”
The extension will entail an expansion of the playschool, which will create an area that is safe to promote learning for children, increased enrollment at the playschool, thereby expanding the opportunity for early childhood education.

Additionally, there will be an expansion and refurbishing of the offices so that the growing administrative needs can be successfully fulfilled.

A designated room is to become a confidential and comfortable environment where residents of Black Bush Polder can receive counseling and referral services, while affording additional skills training areas to accommodate life skills training activities.

Moreover, there will be an Information Technology room where residents can acquire computer training, and they will no longer have to travel out of Black Bush Polder for such a purpose.

Further, Jordan explained that with the building expansion, the organisation will be able to hold various training exercises and conferences, which will allow participants to seek employment, engage in positive and healthy activities which will decrease gender-based violence and other social issues.

Meanwhile, representing the residents of Black Bush Polder, Ms. Shafiran Bhajan, former Regional Education Officer, noted that a wide cross-section of the community stands to benefit from the expansion project.

Meanwhile, prior to the signing of the multi-million dollar contract by MCD Director Jacqueline Cummings-Johnson, and Ambassador Yoshimasa Tezuka , the audio versions of national anthems from both countries were played.

The two-hour programme was chaired by Head Teacher Verma Jadunath, while remarks were made by Regional Chairman David Armogan, Community Developer, Mr. Alex Foster, Peace Corps (Guyana) Response Programme Coordinator, Mr. Flavio Rose, Food for the Poor (Guyana) Inc. Senior Project Officer, Ms. Andrea Benjamin, and Chairman of the Black Bush Community Developers, Mr. Takoor Persaud.
By Jeune Vankeric