By Dillon Goring
ONE Guyanese non-profit organisation is aiding in the fight to stand up for the vulnerable and the less fortunate in Guyana.
Head of the United Bridge Builders Mission, Bonita Montaque, during an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine disclosed that the organisation is working with families and individuals to ensure that solutions are sought.

Among the organisation’s focus is ensuring that persons facing issues of domestic violence, child abuse and skills training for youths are given attention to reduce the number of victims, as well as the instances of these issues in society.

During the interview, Montaque also disclosed that the organisation was registered in 2012, and initially worked in conjunction with the National AIDS Programme, assisting persons who were afflicted with the deadly disease.

According to Montaque, the newly registered organisation had its central headquarters in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).
“We started in Region Six, we worked on an empowering needs and wheels programme, because we knew that based on needs and assessment of persons who were affected, [they] were unable to keep a job; they were hungry many days and their children also suffered the same fate, thus resulting in their children weren’t going to school,” the director told Pepperpot Magazine.

As a result of this, the organisation provided hot meals for children in the community and skills training programmes to allow vocational skills enhancement.
Bonita Montaque candidly noted that being a survivor of child abuse and domestic violence, it was important to incorporate into her organisation the type of training that would be able to deal with these two issues.

“Over the years we continued to work, providing scholarships to various persons, including children who were HIV positive. There are at least 25 persons who are graduates of the University of Guyana and who are beneficiaries of the organisation’s training programmes,” Montaque told the Pepperpot Magazine.
In response to addressing the need to provide support for battered and abused women, the organisation has not only set up shelters, but also organised and participated in national marches, walks and rallies. They have also looked after the orphans of murdered women, and women who commit suicide, by providing support for those children.
The organisation over the years has received funding for its operations through fundraising events, donations and personal inputs from their families.
Nevertheless, according to Montaque, the financial challenges facing the organisation are insurmountable, since the demands of the organisation require persons to volunteer their time and commitment.

The director is advocating for support in the further continuation of the programmes held by her organisation as part of her future plans.

Future Plans

“We would like to have operations in several regions in the country and necessary funding to be able to build our building. During the previous administration, efforts were made to get the land on which to build our building, so we are hoping that we can support, instead of renting buildings for rates that we cannot afford,” Bonita disclosed.
Also on the agenda are activities for youths and children.

Montaque made mention of the fact that she and her organisation work closely with the Child Protection Agency and its Director to facilitate programmes that speak to the development of children.

The organisation through its director, revealed that it wants to have more transformative and rehabilitative programmes as part of its plans.
Churches, mosques, temples and community-based organisations and others need to get on board to solve issues and positively change and impact lives for the betterment of the nation’s youths and children, she said.