THE Guyana United Kingdom Social Development Association (GUSDA) this week donated a sum of £2000 to First Lady Mrs Sandra Granger which will be utilised to support her programme of activities aimed at empowering women and girls in Guyana.

According to the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP), the presentation ceremony was hosted at the Guyana High Commission in London, where the First Lady is accompanying President David Granger as part of Guyana’s delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Guyana’s High Commissioner to London, Hamley Case, also attended the presentation ceremony. While expressing appreciation and gratitude to donors for their generous donation , the First Lady noted that her office is involved in a number of projects, including STEM Guyana, which introduces Robotics to students and young people countrywide, partnering with Women Across Differences to provide teenage mothers with opportunities to continue and further their education; hosting child and elderly care workshops and the Self Reliance and Success in Business Workshop which aims to help participants acquire the tools to become entrepreneurs.

She said that these have all been made possible through collaboration with the Ministries of Education, Social Protection and other agencies , in the delivery of their projects, as well as through the generosity and support of individuals and organisations in Guyana and in the diaspora.

Chairman of GUSDA, Orin Alexander, said that the association admires the First Lady’s “leadership, passion, sense of purpose and professionalism” in delivering projects aimed at educating and empowering the vulnerable citizens of Guyana. He said that GUSDA has been inspired by the positive feedback received from participants across Guyana of the First Lady’s  programmes.

Alexander said that although the association is small, “our members have big hearts and are unwavering in their commitment to Guyana”. Alexander emphasised that the empowerment of women plays a critical role in tackling domestic abuse, suicide, sexual exploitation and unemployment, and pledged further support to other projects.