RECOGNISING the need for giving back to society, Edward B. Beharry & Company Ltd in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity presented a house to a 47-year-old disabled, deserving citizen at Herstelling on Thursday. 

Clive Richmond who has one arm and crippled feet would stand prominently at the junction of Lamaha and Vlissingen Road by the traffic lights to receive charity from persons in passing vehicles.
Richmond was involved in a vehicular accident in 2000 and at the time he lived with his parents who were worried about his condition and need for surgeries but they passed away a year later.
Thereafter, with no support from anyone, Richmond took to begging for several years on the streets until some kind persons provided shelter for him.
Subsequently, Richmond was able to purchase a piece of land at Providence, East Bank Demerara and then he approached several organisations for assistance in building his home but without any success.

However, his situation was brought to the attention of Habitat for Humanity and after a review of his case, it was realised that Richmond was an ideal candidate for the housing intervention.
He has expressed his appreciation to both collaborators and thanked them whole-heartedly for building a home for him.
Director of Edward B. Beharry & Company Ltd, Ms. Anjuli Beharry said that she is very satisfied with the company’s collaboration with Habitat for Humanity and is proud to provide necessitates to the less fortunate like Richmond.
National Director for Habitat for Humanity, Rawle Small echoed similar sentiments to that of Ms. Beharry and said that “it is the impact of our partnership that keeps us going when you can see the change in someone’s life.”
The Partnership between Edward B Beharry & Company and Habitat for Humanity Guyana was established in 2013. The Beharry Build initiative saw a commitment from them in support of housing intervention for single-parents, the extremely poor and those with no means to access housing finance.

Meanwhile, with every purchase of a Beharry product $1.00 is donated to Habitat for Guyana towards the construction of homes for individuals who are extremely disadvantaged. Additionally, Beharry staff also provides hours of volunteer work on building sites.
Habitat for Humanity Guyana is a non-profit Christian organisation whose main goal is to eliminate poverty housing in Guyana. They comprise of five affiliates working towards similar objectives throughout Guyana and had dedicated their first six houses in 1997 and in 2003 the 200th house. Over time, they have built over 350 houses as well as providing shelter for approximately 1,600 persons in Guyana.

(By Shivanie Sugrim)