THE management and staff of Julius Variety Store yesterday gifted the non-governmental organisation (NGO), Women Across Differences (WAD) about $100,000 worth of items for babies and children.The presentation took place at WAD’s office at Lot 34 Anira Street, Queenstown, where the Coordinator, Clonel Samuels-Boston and Canadian Volunteer, Danielle Blondin were on hand to receive the donation, which will aid in their work.
WAD is a women’s organisation which was established in 1996 to enable women and girls to empower themselves through access to social and economic resources. It provides a forum for women to meet and encourages them to make their collective voices heard in the area of public policy.
The representatives of WAD were very pleased to receive the gifts, which include four baby carriers, four strollers and one playpen. The gift items will be used to assist young mothers, especially school drop-outs who bring their babies and children along for classes at the location.
Meanwhile, father of the proprietor, Lawrence Mentis said yesterday that he was present on behalf of his son, Julius Mentis and they plan to make similar donations in future, and this was the first of its kind to WAD.
Coordinator Samuels-Boston told the Guyana Chronicle that their major challenge at present is space because they are stuck in a cramped bottom flat apartment for which they pay a monthly rent.
She noted that once you invest in a girl, it’s like you invest in a generation and their aim is to have girls and women participate in workshops and courses. WAD offers courses free of cost in personal development, sexual reproductive health, entrepreneur development and physio-social support with 25 volunteers and also partners with other NGOs.
Meanwhile, the NGO plans to expand to cater for a daycare once they get more spacious accommodation.
Blondin said she arrived in Guyana in October this year and has been working with WAD since then. She added that the experience has been good so far and noted her success in creating a manual for WAD.
