The work of the ‘Live ProActive Club’

By M Margaret Burke

A GROUP of young professionals are leaving no stone unturned in their effort to help

Guyanese live healthier lives. This group, calling themselves the ‘Live ProActive Club’ believes that they are a catalyst for transformation and empowerment through facilitating holistic, healthy lifestyle changes.

Founder and Co-Leader of the club, Keiba Murray, who is an accountant by profession, told the Pepperpot Magazine, “When I returned home from England in November 2014 after living there for seven years I volunteered at a Children’s Centre in Ruimveldt helping with numeracy, literacy, social skills, etc. I realised that there was a need for a holistic approach to wellness if, we as a people, were going to take a unified stand against non-communicable illnesses such as diabetes, stroke, hypertension, etc. and social problems such as suicide, poverty and violence. According to PAHO, Non-communicable Diseases represent 60 to 70 per cent of Guyana’s mortality rate. That was when the idea of Live ProActive was born and my team of professionals was willing and eager to help.”

DEVELOPED PLAN

“We specialise in effective training, mentoring and various change management sessions to benefit individuals, organisations and communities nationwide,” she said, adding that their approach to development is simple and that the group is a team of professionals with the insight into holistic lifestyle changes aimed at improving the overall well-being of people. In so doing, she said that they create a tailored approach to suit lifestyle changes. Further, she informed that the group also offers on-going support in the form of life clubs to assist individuals to achieve their goals, utilising modern resources to monitor and evaluate the individual’s process to progress.

“We contribute to eight of the United Nation’s sustainable development goals,” she said, while stating that the process for progress is one of consultation, where the individual need to ascertain where he or she is in your process to progress and where that person want to go (S.M.A.R.T goals); implementation of an action plan to achieve the goals; putting the plans into action by choosing an appropriate life club and working along with the life club leader to realise the goals within that life club; and assessing the progress made within the chosen life club with the trained social worker.

Murray said that the persons to benefit have the option of deciding whether they would continue to work along with their mentor; continue in the same life club or switch to another life club based on the results.
The group’s co-leader pointed out that they have a training package to help Guyanese achieve wellness in every aspect of their lives, such as in the area of finances, life skills, psychological and social, which would include emotional intelligence, social skills, time, stress and conflict management. They also focus on the physical wellness and this includes nutritional needs, especially in cases of diabetics and hypertension, also for athletes, among others. Consideration has also been given to the wellness of children as it relates to all aspects of the programme.

OVERALL BENEFITS

According to Murray, the intended goal of this programme is to be able to produce healthy students with proactive attitudes to work and community building and sustained improved organisational development and increased productivity. The programme is also designed to assist persons to experience reduced stress levels and non-communicable diseases; have fewer conflicts and more effective resolution of disagreements in the personal lives, as well as in their workplaces.

She added that part of the desired benefit of this proactive programme is to ensure effective collaboration, communication and use of social skills; also team-building and efficient execution of organisational projects for positive change.

For the youth, the programme is expected to help students to become more actively engaged in self-development and healthy lifestyle practices, as well as experience a reduction in social problems such as suicide, poverty, substance abuse and violence. Further, that there is an increased awareness of financial literacy and its benefits to increased income as the country transition into a green economy.

TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS

Other than Murray, the club has a strong team of professional physical trainers, which include Tyson English who was trained by the British Sports Trust/Sapodilla Learning with a Certificate in Community Sports Leadership. He has gained several other certificates in Mass Casualty Management, Psychological Management and Evaluation. He is also a football referee, and a basketball and volleyball coach.

On board too is Seon Erskine, the Physical Wellness Life Club Leader. He holds a MSc. in Education and a Bachelor’s Degree, Physical Education Teaching and Coaching. As a vegan, Erskine encourages healthy nutrition and positive lifestyle practices.

Dr. Nazim Yassim is a member of the team as a Self Defence Instructor. He has training in black belt in Shin-kai-ryu system of Martial Arts.

Annie Gomes, on the other hand, is a Yoga Instructor – Ashtanga, Hatha and Yin disciplines.

Added to the team is Dr. Gerald Forde, a young medical doctor who enjoys giving back to his community using the wealth of knowledge gained from his experience in the fields. He is accompanied by Ismay Murray who is a First Aid and CPR Instructor. Ismay is a professional Nurse and Midwife by profession.

Mesesdjehuti, is a qualified social worker who dedicates his time towards working with underprivileged communities, while focusing on youth development. He has previously collaborated with UN AIDS, UNFPA, PAHO/WHO and many other international organisations.

There is also a young Scientist on board, Sheri Garraway; a young Environmentalist, Godfrey Scott and Kadija Murray, who is a Mathematician. (mercilinburke2017@gmail.com)