DIGICEL Guyana on Wednesday held the sod-turning ceremony for the Linden Rehabilitation Centre for Children. 

The state-of-the-art building will be constructed and equipped with all modern equipment for children with special needs, compliments of the cell phone giant.

Speaking on behalf of Digicel Guyana, Head of Marketing Jacqueline James, said the idea was conceptualised during a conversation with officials from Linden after their needs were analysed.

She noted that they had visited the community in July and went to the Low Vision and Special Needs Schools, where they got a first-hand look at the needs of differently-abled children.

James explained after the idea of rehabilitating the Special Needs School had come up, they conceptualised an even better project to construct a spanking new building once the land space was identified and approved.

She was, therefore, pleased to be a part of the event yesterday which saw a large turnout of officials from the community, as well as special-needs children, who will ultimately benefit from the construction of the building.

James said the Ministry of Education welcomes the project, but Minister Priya Manickchand could not attend because she was in Region 1 heading the “BecauseWe Care Project.”

The senior official of Digicel Guyana stated that the facility will be equipped with 21st century equipment and computers to cater for the needs of differently-abled children.

She added that the facility will also have a recreational area for children and, once completed, will be a building like no other.

The minister was ably represented by Evelyn Hamilton, who is the Chief Planning Officer, Ministry of Education and Chairman of the National Commission on Disability.

Region 10 Chairman, Sharma Solomon graced the sod-turning event yesterday with his presence, and during his remarks said he was very pleased with the project noting that the provision of equal opportunity for the disabled is being recognised.

He lauded Digicel Guyana for their corporate effort and also encouraged other companies to follow suit and add to the community. Additionally, Solomon deemed the event a memorable one for Linden.

Also present was Chairman of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) Orin Gordon, who expressed his gratitude to Digicel for making such a bold move towards the development of disabled children in that region.

Meanwhile, Coordinator in Charge of Special Needs, Ministry of Education, Evelyn Hamilton in her remarks told the gathering that the facility will enable disabled children to achieve their full potential and was very pleased with the initiative undertaken by Digicel.

She pledged the ministry’s full support for the project and thanked Digicel for recognising the need of disabled children in that community.

Also in attendance were the town clerk; Ministry of Education officials; teachers of the Low Vision and Special needs Schools, and others.

Fulfilling their corporate responsibility Digicel Guyana on November 14, 2013 had made good on their promise for the construction of a multi-million dollar one–of-a-kind building to house orphaned children.

The Mahaica Children’s Home was opened and handed over to Minister of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Jennifer Webster, and is a facility that houses more than 80 children and was constructed within a 10-month period.

(By Michel Outridge)