By Michel Outridge 

Weygand Gardner and a group of overseas-based Guyanese are making a difference in the lives of children, who are less fortunate through their organisation, All God’s Little Children Inc.

The non-governmental organisation (NGO) has a local office at the Community Centre Ground at Friendship, East Coast Demerara.

Gardner told the Pepperpot Magazine that the Saturday School has been in existence since 2010 and it caters for the needs of needy children from depressed communities along the East Coast wing.

He related that they conduct Christian principles – reading and art activities programmes to empower children through physical display from 14:00hrs to 16:00hrs, every Saturday.

The children which amount to more than 70 are drawn from Bare Root and other surrounding areas are transported by vehicles provided by the organisation and while there, they are fed through their feeding programme which has been active for the past two years.

Gardner explained that funds are garnered from donations from its members, who reside abroad and give to All God’s Little Children Inc.

He added that since they started they have made strides to enhance the lives of both children and adults through their housing project where they constructed three houses for poor families, donated medical supplies to clinics and schools and not to forget their ongoing footwear and clothing drive.

The Executive Director reported that they have done extensive repairs to the building which houses the office and also installed a bouncy house for the children’s recreation.

“We repaired the stairs, the fence and other parts for the building which was in a deplorable state and we will continue to upgrade the edifice,” he said.

He noted too, that the boys’ soccer team was uniformed and every August they have their backpack drive where needy children are presented with school supplies with a backpack.

Gardner said last year they catered for 90 school-aged children from several communities including, Buxton and Bare Root.

He is a local from Buxton but resides in the United States of America (USA) and the idea of the organisation was a vision he had in which he wanted to provide for needy children.

“Over the years as a Guyanese I want to do so much but I limit my ideas to helping children and we have been successful in many projects and we strive to make a difference in the lives of those in need,’ he said.

Gardner told the Pepperpot Magazine that they also coordinated countless medical outreaches and sourced scholarships for its volunteers, some of whom have completed University of Guyana (UG) and are gainfully employed.

He stated that some of the recipients are Dr. Yonel Armstrong, Susan Simon, Uleita Williams and Denita Kato.

Gardner added that these volunteers assisted and in return received full scholarships for two and four year’s studies.

He stated that All God’s Little Children Inc. is run by a five-member Board of Directors and they are currently in talks with Child Care and Protection Services to start a community-based programme to enhance the lives of children.

Gardner pointed out that the organisation would like to create child-safe and friendly communities for children and they are seeking to strengthen the alliance with Child Care and Protection Services.