THE CHILDREN of John Fernandes Housing Scheme, Georgetown benefitted from 78 pairs of shoes last Monday when representatives of Enhance. Potential. Inspire. Change (EPIC) Guyana visited the area.

According to EPIC Guyana Executive Director Brian Backer they responded to requests from overseas-based Guyanese, who after reading the story penned by this reporter titled “Christmas in the ghetto” which appeared in the December 25, 2016 edition of the Guyana Chronicle, wanted to do something for the children there.

He related that a hamper which contained groceries was presented to a resident by EPIC compliments of one of their local partners, John Fernandes Group of Companies.

At the footwear distribution exercise on Monday the recipients (all children) were very pleased upon receiving footwear and expressed thanks in the presence of their parents.

Backer added that EPIC was established last year and they have had several back-to-school footwear drives in partnership with their overseas sponsors.

He explained that when they first visited the area they recognised the need for children to be outfitted with school footwear.

EPIC Guyana then launched a drive and the response was successful, as such the distribution was possible on Monday.

EPIC Guyana is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) working to help children who have had law enforcement contact and are detained in the Juvenile Holding Centre at Sophia, Georgetown.

Meanwhile, EPIC Administrator Winston Martindale said their primary focus was to assist youths who were housed at the Juvenile Holding Centre in Sophia but they have had several other programmes.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that EPIC found that teens who were on remand were placed in the centre which is not suitable for them. As such, they provide them with coping skills to make their stay better.

Martindale added that they have several motivational speakers in place to talk to the youths periodically and they have collaborated with Carnegie School of Home Economics where they have classes in craft.

He stated that at any given time there are about 35 teens housed at the location and for their birthdays they would partner with companies to provide them with ice-cream, cake and pizza.

Martindale pointed out that with the youths being away from their homes and families some of them find it difficult to cope, and they recognised that there was the need for them to be treated as children and not hardened criminals.

He added that some of the teens also came from dysfunctional backgrounds and homes and EPIC reaches out to them in a meaningful way hoping they would make better choices thereafter.