WITHIN the next four months, the Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission will commission a two-storeyed concrete edifice, which will house activities aimed at empowering the vulnerable in Berbice.The building is centrally located at Ankerville, Port Mourant, Corentyne, which incidentally is a short distance from the final resting place of former presidents Cheddi Jagan, and his US- born wife, Janet.

The building, which measures 60 x32 feet, will empower over 30 persons every quarter, through training sessions in sewing, computerised embroidery designs, joinery and carpentry Additionally, there will be secretarial and office practice classes, along with counselling sessions for those facing various challenges.
In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle last Thursday, the New Jersey- based Pandit Suresh Sugrim, whilst giving an update on the project, said phase one of the $24M project, which is sponsored through the benevolence of Friends and Guyanese based in the United States of America, is 90 percent completed, and is slated to be commissioned in July.
Phase two of the project, which will include a benevolent home for retired remigrants, is expected to commence in September of this year while completion will depend on the availability of funding from donors, along with the hosting of fund- raising events.
‘The second project, a home for seniors, will be erected at a cost of $15M. It will be funded by Guyanese -Canadians. The structure, measuring 40f x 120ft will consist of 40 rooms, some of which cater for double occupancy for husbands and wives. It will also cater for re-migrants. Some of the older folk who cannot live in New York, or Toronto and other cold climates and those who cannot get along with their sons-in-law or daughters-in-law. They can return home… this is also home for them.”

The New Jersey Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission, which is registered locally, has been working in Guyana since 2005, and has spent large sums of money to build houses and distribute various items to individuals and vulnerable groups.
According to Pandit Sugrim, “In 2011, we realised that handouts were not the solution to the problems. We were giving people a fish, instead of teaching them to fish. Therefore, we re-designed our projects aimed at empowering, which will eventually change lives. With this concept in mind, the Empowering Centre was birthed.”

Construction on the current phase commenced in October 2013, with the contract being awarded to contractor Dice of Port Mourant, but labour is being provided by a group of volunteers.
‘Eighteen million has been expended on the building, while six million was utilized to build the fence [and] another $12M million is needed to assist in furnishing and painting.’
However, donations of used or refurbished furniture, along with computers will be accepted, says Sugrim.
Meanwhile, a new board of directors, headed by President Sattash Udit has been elected to serve the local chapter.