–puts $500,000 towards their upkeep

YOUTHS of the Juvenile Detention Centre at Sophia will now receive G$500,000 worth of assistance following a donation from the local chapter of the group, 100 People Who Care.
The money will be utilised by the Enhance Potential to Inspire Change (EPIC) Guyana Foundation, another local Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) which aids children who are detained at the juvenile holding centre.

EPIC was nominated by Alex Arjoon and Stuart Gonsalves at the first meeting for the year for People Who Care, which assembles once every three months to choose local charities, NGOs, or worthy causes for charitable donations.
The meeting was held on Wednesday at the GT Motor Sports Hall on Thomas Lands. At each gathering, every member of the organisation contributes the sum of G$5,000 towards achieving the half-a- million dollars used to provide a better standard-of-living for the less fortunate.
Chairperson of the organisation, Valerie Jenkinson explained the process by which the causes are chosen, stating that all nominated names are placed into a bag from which three are chosen.

The nominators of the chosen three causes are then tasked with making a five-minute presentation stating why they chose the charity they did, after which there is a voting process which reveals the winning Foundation.
“We learn about these small charities that nobody has an idea existed, and the wonderful

work they’re doing on a shoestring,” Jenkinson said, adding:
“They’re not government-supported; they’re just working on very, very minimal funds. So if we can get to 100 members and give somebody $500,000, it makes a huge difference.”
Last October, People Who Care was able to assist the Hararuni Girls Home on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway where, besides infrastructural development, 17 children there were in receipt of school supplies, hygiene products, as well as treatment for lice and other medical **conditions.
The children at that home are said to have either faced issues of abuse or are orphaned due to varying circumstances.

Co-founder of the organisation’s local chapter is Caitlin Vieira, a psychologist by profession, who told the Guyana Chronicle that not only do members have the chance to make a difference, but to learn during the one-hour meetings every quarter.
“I really do believe that people want to make a difference, but due to financial and time restraints, there are some issues. So we meet once every three months; and it’s just $5,000,” Vieira said.

“More importantly, we get to learn about the different charities and initiatives that are in Guyana, because people come and give this information all the time. So it’s not only making a difference, but its learning,” she added.
Co-founder, Kian Jabour says that the idea is a competent one, as it fits right in with today’s fast-paced world.
“It really is a very open concept; inclusive of everyone and at the same time very effective and efficient,” Jabour said, adding: “And I think that’s where the world is right now: We all care about our time; our time is our money, so the faster that we can help and the easier it is, it’s the more we’ll do.”
The 100 Who Care Alliance presently has various branches of 100 Women Who Care, 100 Men Who Care, 100 People Who Care and 100 Kids Who Care.
The organisation was founded by Karen Dunigan in Michigan, USA in 2008, and at her first meeting, members raised US$10,000 to buy 300 new baby cribs for an organisation in their city.

Subsequently, Jenkinson went on launch the organisation’s first presence in the Caribbean in St. Lucia and, to date, there are over 500 chapters worldwide.
“The thing about this,” Jenkinson said, “is that nobody has to do anything. If you’re a busy person, you don’t have to bake cookies, you don’t have to sell anything, you don’t have to attend endless meetings.

“Come to the next meeting, take a look at what we’re doing. If you like it; join. You don’t have to make a commitment before you’ve seen what we do.”
Jenkinson says that altogether, the organisation has raised over US$53M worldwide simply by each person giving a small portion.
The group’s next meeting is set for Wednesday, April 18, 2018.