SIX local organisations were recently honoured when the United Nations local office held its Millennium Development Champions Awards ceremony at the Georgetown Club at Camp Street to celebrate the UN’s 69th anniversary. 

Four of the six organisations won Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Awards, while two were presented with Honourable Mention and Special Recognition Awards.
The awards were presented as follows:

MDG 2: Achieving Universal Primary Education: The Guyana Society for the Blind.
The organisation has been contributing towards the achievement of primary education targeting persons living with disabilities (PWD), through the provision of services which enable the visually impaired to prepare for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examination, using electronically modified media. The society is also home to the largest group of persons with disabilities in the Caribbean who have written the CSEC Examination, using electronic media.

MDG 3: Promoting Gender Equality and Empowering Women: The Mibicuri Youth Development Community of Black Bush Polder, Berbice.
Established in 1997, the organisation mobilised and galvanized women in championing their cause and taking a stand against gender-based violence, while working effectively at promoting the rights and responsibilities of women.

MDG 5: Improving Maternal Health: This award was won by the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) in Region 10.
The Regional Hospital Complex, with a regional pre-natal care strategy was designed to guarantee the sustainability of the Linden Hospital ‘Zero Maternal Mortality Rate’. Geared towards improving the efficiency of LHC, through a primary health care approach, the hospital has made great strides in reducing the number of maternal deaths between 2010- 2014.

MDG 1: Eradicating Extreme Poverty and Hunger: The St. Francis Community Developers.
Established in 1986, to support community development, today the organisation has grown into a recognized institution geared towards poverty reduction. It has also implemented and developed several community projects from which several residents have benefitted.

Special Award for Youth Empowerment: Winner of that Award was ‘IMPACT’
In existence for more than 15 years, the organisation provides services to support crime reduction and poverty alleviation. It works through community and family engagement, sporting activities and the provision of life skills training for young people.

Special Recognition Award: For promoting the work and values of the United Nations in Guyana.
The award was won by Justice Donald Trotman and the United Nations Association of Guyana (UNAG), and presented by United Nations Resident Co-ordinator, Ms. Khadija Musa.
In presenting the plaque, Ms Musa said that Justice Trotman is one who has been a backbone for the United Nations in Guyana. “He has worked tirelessly in promoting the work and values of the United Nations in Guyana and making sure that communities know about it, continue to know, and ensure it is now forgotten.”

(By Shirley Thomas)