The Guyana Human Development Multi-Purpose Centre

THE Guyana Human Development Multi-Purpose Centre (GHD-MPC) is located at Miss Phoebe Village, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice. It is a Catholic religious organisation by the name of “Society of Jesus” ( also known as the Jesuits worldwide) and it is an entity committed to empowering school drop-outs, single parents and anyone who is willing to learn a skill to become gainfully employed by establishing his/her own small businesses, to earn.

Angelita Amar is the Assistant Director and she related that the courses offered at the facility, are: computer classes, cake decoration, cooking, craft, sewing, hair, nails, and cosmetology courses, manicure, pedicure, facials and basic mechanic.

She reported that the centre is led by Fr. Ramesh Vanan SJ as its present Director and has been in existence for the past 15 years. It is opened from 08:30hrs to 17:30hrs on weekdays and they have been having different sessions for classes since the pandemic.

Amar stated that they have two full-time teachers and three volunteers and every six months they have a graduation of varying courses with about 25 to 30 students and those students can take up to four classes at the same time if they wish.

GHD-MPC has a library which is open to the public free of charge and they have thousands of books, a craft section, sewing machines, washroom facilities and a kitchen area that is fully equipped; a sickbay which will be converted into a section for First Aid Classes which will be introduced in the curriculum soon.

“Because of the pandemic, we have to re-structure classes so at any given time we do not have a crowd here and we practise all the safety protocols here and we ensure the place is clean and sanitised regularly too,” she said.

The Jesuits also distribute hampers to widows and the needy in the village and surrounding communities every month as their way of giving back to society. They also make sure the staff and students cultivate this habit of reaching out to persons in need in the community.

Director of GHD-MPC, Fr. Vanan SJ told the Pepperpot Magazine that the Jesuit community offers counselling and has many outreaches and would also have sessions on alcohol abuse and suicide prevention from time to time. He stated that the GHD-MPC was established in 2006 and since then, they have had many success stories with the hundreds of women and youths who pass through the facility. Teachers, nurses, retired headmasters, police personnel are also some of our past students. The centre is open to the whole neighbourhood and area without any discrimination.

“The fee structure is unbeatable, with just $1,000 per course which lasts a month and we attach that small fee to hold the student responsible for attending classes, because we want them to become empowered and successful in their career paths,” he said.

The GHD-MPC is geared towards contributing towards the transformation of Guyana into a nation of reconciliation, peace, harmony and human progress. The centre is primarily sponsored by the Jesuits in Guyana and offers programmes based on faith, morals, and pastoral care to youths, parents, teachers and students.

The GHD-MPC targets children ages five to 12, early teens from 13 to 15, late teens from 16 to 19, youth from 20 to 25, unmarried adults and singles, married couples with children, parents and adults in general, teachers and educators, workers and shop assistants, grandparents and golden agers and single and divorced parents.

The facilities at GHD-MPC are computer skills, a reading room/library, a guidance and counselling room, mediation room and kitchen, food and snack preparations.

The facility is located at Lot 15 Miss Phoebe Public Road, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice and it is a well-kept, clean place with all the basic amenities to foster learning; it is also spacious and airy.

The staff are cooperative and friendly and it is the place to be if you are interested in being empowered and establishing your own small business to earn.

The GHD-MPC supports students until they graduate and even assist in placing them in suitable jobs and has all decorations, arts and craft on display in the building as a show-piece of the talent they have.