By Telesha Ramnarine 

MAQSOOD Ahmed Mansoor came to Guyana seven years ago because of his passion to assist others who are in need. Now the Chairman of Humanity First Guyana, he is glad to be able to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of Guyanese each month.

Originally from Pakistan, Maqsood studied in Canada and is now a missionary with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

Apart from the religious aspect of his service, he leads Humanity First Guyana, which operates as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) based at Lot 198 Oronoque Street, Queenstown.

The organisation, part of an international NGO that can be found in more than 50 countries across the world, started here in Guyana in 2005. It went dormant for some time but was resuscitated in 2018. ‘Humanity First’ originated in the United Kingdom in 1994.

With about 50 volunteers across Guyana, the organisation has been assisting hundreds of persons with a number of programmes that it has underway. “This organisation is not just for Muslims alone, all are welcome. Our goal is to serve mankind,” Maqsood told the Pepperpot Magazine in a recent interview.

“We want to restore the communities, build the communities. There is a great need in Guyana to do a lot of community work,” he expressed, adding, “Our ultimate goal is to have a hospital, even to build a school. Our vision is not to simply continue doing food hampers and small things, but of course, we will go step by step…do something amazing for Guyana that makes a positive change for the country.”

Maqsood has also been thinking about the possibility of building a rehabilitation centre in Guyana, based on his research and conversations with others that this is something badly needed in the country.

He loves spending his time helping others and could think of no other way of gaining satisfaction in his life. “I love serving mankind. Helping people is one of my passions; that’s what I enjoy. There’s some satisfaction that I can’t get by having a beautiful car, an amazing house. Those worldly things cannot satisfy you, but helping another person gives you true satisfaction,” he expressed.

Speaking about some of the organisation’s local programmes, Maqsood referred to the ‘Knowledge for Life’ programme that educates the communities at a very nominal cost, or even for free on occasions. For instance, they have been giving free English classes to foreigners in Guyana.

They also do medical outreaches with the assistance of doctors and others in the medical field who would volunteer their services. “Just last weekend, we helped about 80 persons in Bourda market, checking their blood pressure, sugar and about eight homeless persons had their wounds treated. Every month we try to go to the homeless people.”

Further, every Sunday, Maqsood said they cook more than 100 meals and distribute them to street dwellers in Georgetown. This is an ongoing programme that was started more than six months ago. “We not only feed them, but we try to rehabilitate them. We go by Bourda, by the post office, Leopold Street…we also do food hampers where we distribute 30 hampers in five different areas, every six weeks.” These are for the elderly, disabled, needy or jobless.

Maqsood said he especially enjoys his time in Guyana because of the difference he is getting to make here, as opposed to if he spends his time in developed countries.
If anyone is willing to volunteer, Maqsood said they would be welcomed. “We want to expand. The more volunteers we have, it’s the more work we can do and more we can achieve.”