A CORRIVERTON-BASED NGO–Family Awareness Consciousness & Togetherness (FACT)– recently received a US$64,800 (GYD$13,353,000) grant from the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Community, Family and Youth Resilience (CFYR) programme to facilitate after-school activities in the township.
The programme will provide 80 children, between the ages of 10 to 18 years, from five schools, with after-school activities which include lessons and homework support integrated with creative arts, lifeskills, and sports.

In a statement on Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy here explained that the Corriverton-based NGO secured the grant after responding to a call for proposals to be submitted by organisations operating in five target communities in Guyana, including Corriverton.
The successful grantees will deliver comprehensive interventions in Corriverton, East La Penitence, East Ruimveldt, Lodge, and Sophia. The activities will encourage student participation in positive youth development activities that reduce vulnerability to risky behaviours that lead to violence.

It was also explained that although this first initiative is focused on the Corriverton community, the after-school programmes will eventually reach the remaining communities identified.

“The programme will increase youth’s self-efficacy, improve their computer knowledge and skills, and ultimately improve school attendance by engaging them in a stimulating and rewarding set of activities. Parents will be encouraged to get involved in the academic life of their children and share in the journey by participating in regular meetings for the duration of the programme,” the U.S. Embassy further explained.

CFYR is a USAID programme designed to reduce youth involvement in crime and violence. It features a comprehensive package of interventions that build the resilience of youth ages 10-29, strengthen family support, and encourage community cohesion. Each of the five communities participating in the CFYR programme is supported by a group of volunteers who form Community Enhancement Committees (CEC) that help residents to identify and implement local solutions to reduce violence and support positive youth development.