Bringing holiday joy to children in Sophia, Region 10 and Essequibo

By Ravena Gildharie
IT is the season of cheer and goodwill once again, when almost everyone is moved to do a good deed and extend a helping hand. Whether it’s a donation of money, food or clothing, a volunteer of service and time, a charity dinner, raffle, kids’ toys drive or Christmas social, the mood is most benevolent, and the philanthropic gestures are plentiful this time around. Certainly, these do create lasting impressions for many beneficiaries.

But what about those who maintain the momentum year-round, some even through their own sponsorship, to ensure that less-fortunate children or youths in depressed communities are given consistent support?

Take for instance Doris Anetha Shelto, founder of the Sophia Sparkle Youth Group and Mothers Action Group on Social Issues, non-profit ventures that she has led and maintained for the past 25 years. Last Sunday, at her ‘bottom house’ at B Field, Sophia, children and youth gathered in their numbers; some along with their parents; for the annual Sparkle Christmas party. Yes, there was Santa Claus, music, dancing, gifts, food, cake and drinks, all made possible by several generous sponsors such as businessman Stanley Ming, Lloyd Phillips and others of Anything Guyanese Facebook Group , and relatives of Shelto including her sister, Lynette.

As Calypsonian Roger Hinds, better known as ‘Young Bill Rogers’ pulled off one of his lively Christmas parangs, the children were all in smiles and giggles. After all, Hinds is no stranger to them, since he usually takes time off his busy schedule during the year to take part in the Sparkle activities. This year, his 10-year-old daughter joined in the festivities with a spectacular steel pan rendition of several popular Christmas carols.

The children also participated in a concert that included several dances, both performances in groups as well as individual presentations. More than 70 children from across Sophia turned out to the event. After lunch and distribution of gifts, the children danced for a few hours, marking the official close of the Sophia Sparkle Youth Group programme for 2017.

Throughout the year, the Group had engaged children of the area in weekend educational activities such as reading, literacy and public speaking. At the classes, the teachers, all volunteers, help identify the students’ weak areas in school and work with them individually to improve performance.

They help with homework and school projects too. During the Easter and July/August Holiday season, the Group focuses on skills building where the children are taught activities like floral decoration-making and embroidery. There are reading classes and interactive sessions specifically designed to accommodate all age groups. Children are allowed to raise issues affecting them and some engage in counselling.

Shelto previously explained that the focus of the Group is to build the capacity of each child through education and discipline while teaching them the importance of morals and religious upbringing. She believes that children in depressed communities such as Sophia need as much support as possible to ensure it produces well-rounded individuals who can benefit from available opportunities and a better standard of living.

CHRISTMAS IN REGION 10
Meanwhile, overseas-based Guyanese Gary Chow-Sam is on a similar mission, though he relies on his own financial backing to carry out his charity work which currently, mainly focuses on Region Ten. He started ‘Just a little bit, Kids Foundation’ last April after an experience he had while visiting a childhood friend, who is a teacher at a school in Coomaka. Chow-Sam related that while at the school he noticed a handful of children who sat in class during the lunch break instead of going out to play with the others.

Afterwards, he observed his friend purchasing biscuits and distributing to them. He then realised that the children didn’t have lunch. After buying lunch for the children that day and the following, he was motivated to do something to help in a sustained way.
On his return to the United States, where he resides, he began purchasing items including school supplies, clothing, toys, footwear, toiletries, bicycles and others while helping also to set up a small kitchenette equipped with microwaves and gas stoves in some of the schools in need. He has so far reached out to schools in areas such as Bamia, Silver Hill and Muritaro. Chow-Sam has since created a network of volunteers in Guyana including a few teachers and some of his relatives.

Though he is now working to have his foundation officially registered as a non-profit in the U.S., Chow-Sam is also seeking donors. To date, he has linked with a sibling in New York and relatives in New Jersey and in Florida. His plans include expanding the donations for the benefit of more children in Guyana’s interior and perhaps later taking it to other countries in the Caribbean.

To ensure this holiday is special for the kids, Chow-Sam made sure toys and other gifts were shipped to Guyana a month before.
In Essequibo, the Region Two Department of Youth hosted its annual Christmas party and sharing out of gifts for over 130 kids from the Adventure Nursery School Annex and the Suddie Primary School Extension situated in the Onderneeming Sand Pit area. Coordinator, Herald Alves said it was the biggest party the Department has ever hosted and its benefitted scores of young children from rural communities of the Essequibo.