SOME 150 children of Maria Elizabeth/Three Friends in Linden, Region 10, will on December 18, 2021, be treated to a day of fun and Christmas tree light-up.

This is being made possible by local businessman Ferez Khan, known as “Sean Major,” in collaboration with the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) and the Military Information Support Team of the United States Embassy.

According to CIOG General Manager Shameena Haniff, the organisation will utilise a monetary donation from Khan to put smiles on the children’s faces during the festive season.

She said that the organisation visited the community in November for a medical outreach and subsequently decided that a Christmas fun day will be held there.

“This would have stemmed from a medical outreach that we would have had in November and given the community is quite poor and vulnerable and a lot of people don’t go to that end to do anything much, we just want to bring, we don’t want to say Christmas cheer, but just some level of entertainment to them…things that they don’t normally get,” she added.

Haniff noted that the children can expect school supplies, toys, food and drinks, and a day packed with exciting games and activities, with a tree light-up as the main event.

She noted that 150 children from the community will be catered for.
Meanwhile, Khan, who is the owner of several local businesses including District, Level, and Publik, told the Guyana Chronicle that he has always made space for philanthropy.

He disclosed that every year he prepares a budget that caters to people-centred outreaches across the country.

“I’ve been doing similar partnerships for years now. Throughout the year we have a budget put aside for different areas, whether it is to buy bicycles for kids up in the rural areas, or different people approach me to say we have a project that would benefit someone or a group of people and whatever our budget allows, we cater to them. What we can afford we afford,” he said.

Khan expressed belief that the fun day and tree-lighting is coming at an opportune time since the COVID-19 pandemic has put a damper on these types of celebrations. He stated that with the COVID-19 vaccination numbers picking up, he believes the time is right for this type of festive activity to be held in accordance with the “new normal.”

“I think everyone kind of wants an opportunity to breathe after the last year and a half that we’ve had. I’m sure not much of these have been organised in the past year and a half, so I guess now with the COVID situation coming a bit under control here in Guyana and around the world, I’m hoping that this programme would now give us the chance to feel that sense of normalcy again,” the businessman added.