THE Association of Chinese Enterprises in Guyana (ACEG) is assisting the Shaheed Orphanages in their efforts to create a playfield for the children at the Oleander Gardens, East Coast Demerara location of the Girls’ Orphanages.Secretary of the Orphanage Board, Hakeem Khan, said the ACEG has been providing help to the project, which is nearly completed, with the donation of $300,000 worth of sand for the landfilling.

“The association will provide the sand now to create a play area to house the complete play equipment being donated by Guyana Goldfields Inc. The Board of Management of the institution, a few years ago, undertook the project to create the facility for the orphans and vulnerable children,” Khan noted.

Chairman of the Board, Badruddin Hassan, stated that when completed, this will be the first such institution to have such a facility. He thanked the ACEG for its continued support, and said it shows the commitment of Chinese businesses to helping and supporting institutions such as Shaheed Orphanages.

The New York-based Save Abee Foundation is also playing a major role in providing funds to create the playground. Secretary of the ACEG, Sherry Cheng, said the association is committed to helping the Guyanese community in moulding its children into strong and healthy persons, and helping to provide a safe environment for them to play and study.

She said the association is pleased to be associated with the orphanages and to assist in this manner, and will continue to be part of such endeavours. She pointed out that this is the association’s way of giving back to the society.

Cheng also said the association is proud to be working alongside other groups in this project, as this shows the fundamental intention of Chinese businesses in regard to building the Guyanese society.

The ACEG is calling on other sections of the society, as well as the media, to support these institutions and to focus more on such ventures, since the children of Guyana deserve the attention and more.

This current phase of the project, costing approximately $4 million, will see creation of the playground, construction of a concrete tarmac for all-weather usage, filling of the ground and area identified for the play area, construction of concrete perimeter drains, construction of a recreational benab and other facilities, installation of play equipment, and installation of floodlights.

The purchase of maintenance equipment for the playfield is also included in this phase, and landscaping and planting of trees are also slated for the project.

Donation of machinery for this phase of the project has been done by M Mohamed Shafeek Construction Company of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo and Mohamed Raffik & Sons Construction Company of Corentyne, Berbice.

The complete play equipment is being donated by Guyana Goldfields Inc & Aurora Gold Mining Company (AGM).

Several other persons and businesses have chipped in to assist in completion of the project. When completed, the facility will allow the children to enjoy outdoor sporting and recreational activities and the staging of the Orphans’ Fun Day and other recreational activities.

The project started several years ago with the board spending over $3M in the initial phase, but lack of funds as well as the need to divert limited resources to other more important needs saw the project being stagnated until late last year.