THERE have been a number of arson and other fires in recent months and in an effort to bring relief to a number of families, ‘Youths for better living’ (YBL), a youth group and non-governmental organisation has commenced an emergency response programme.
The programme is a second entity of the organisation, aimed at quick response to assist families who have been affected by fires during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chairman and founder of YBL, Kelvin Fortune, also known as ‘SelfieBoss’, related that, “The initiative is part of our emergency 100 response where we also render assistance in food supplies to fire victims, yesterday we visited another fire victim in ‘A’ field Sophia…most of the fires that happened recently during COVID-19, we have been reaching out to the victims with food supplies,” he stated.

Fortune disclosed that the NGO has managed to assist some thirty households that were affected by fires and other disasters during the health crisis. He noted that the organisation focuses mainly on persons who live in squatting areas and reside in shacks and so forth. “We started [donations] in dams or reserved areas, we targeted communities on the East Coast mostly, we have also targeted areas,” he said.
Despite the organisation being small he noted that he does his utmost best to assist others as well as persons who reside out of the region who reach out to him and the YBL team for help.

“We have even had persons from out of town let’s say from Linden and Berbice who would need food supplies but because of transportation, we would have them to come and sometimes if they cannot afford the transportation, we would supply them money,” Fortune said.
Fortune disclosed that the organisation was launched in the height of the coronavirus pandemic, just days after Guyana recorded its first case of the virus in March.

He noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic the YBL team has managed to donate some 1,978 hampers to single parents and senior citizens, 398 to nurses and frontline workers, along with a certificate of appreciation to honor their hard work.
Additionally, YBL was able to distribute hampers to three major hospitals and 10 health centres across the country.
The YBL group to date has some 70 Volunteers and will be carrying out a series of donations as well as other voluntary work during these trying times to help as many vulnerable households. Those who wish to contribute or lend a helping hand can contact Fortune via WhatsApp on the number: 592- 661-4580.