– A safe space to rejuvenate and socialise through the love of books

SAMEERAH Mohamed-Ferouz wanted to make a difference in the lives of persons who were feeling lonely, bored or fed up with being shut in during the pandemic. Toying with a few ideas, she eventually came up with just the initiative that she thought would make a real impact.

With the COVID-19 pandemic raging in 2021 and affecting people’s mental health worldwide, due to minimum interaction and other factors, Sameerah remembers that it began taking a toll on her as well.
“It was getting to me as I was accustomed to a fast-paced lifestyle…I started to think about what I enjoyed; I always enjoyed reading books growing up. However, life had gotten so busy that I hadn’t gotten the chance to sit down and indulge in one for a while. Then it came to me! We needed to socialise in a healthy COVID-safe way,” she reflected.

So in June 2021, Escapé (pronounced Es-ca-pay) was born. Sameerah could see that there definitely was a need for a book club. “Reading is so important and many individuals take books for granted. Knowledge is power and I wanted to share that with everyone,” she said.

With a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in hand, she is currently pursuing her Master’s in Business Administration. She has always been actively involved in extracurricular activities in college and is part of various social and cultural groups, and dance and cheerleading teams. She has also always enjoyed volunteering.

So when it came to managing the book club, it was a breeze for Sameerah. “From the very first meeting, I knew exactly what I wanted Escapé to be. There needed to be a healthy environment where people can have an outlet to rejuvenate and socialise through the love of books. It would also be a safe space to discuss issues troubling members in their everyday lives. They would be able to bond and relate to one another, talk as they please and relax, all while sharing their love for books.”

The name of the club that she chose also holds special meaning. She explains: “Personally, when I read, I forget where I am. I get lost in the novel that I am reading, and I embody the characters. On the other hand, reading makes me see all the possibilities there are in the world.  It opens a new perspective in every book that I pick up. It shows me that I have no limits.”

The club meets once a month in the conference room of the Tropical Shipping Building and has themed potlucks depending on what month and season it is. At the start of 2022, the members set out a few goals, one of which is to work on their mental health and practise self-care.

Another main goal is to give back to the community and host two or three charity events annually as well as attend charitable events. Escapé decided to volunteer and execute ideas to help communities in any way they could, along with food, clothing, and decor to match the seasons. For example, during October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Escapé volunteered with the Guyana Cancer Foundation at their Candlelight Vigil. Members also attended the High Tea & Fashion Show fundraiser for the GCF as well.

For the holidays, they also did a festive themed meeting with clothes, decor and food. “We had so much fun. Since Christmas and the New Year were fast approaching I began to think about the less fortunate kids and how Escapé Book Club can mobilise to bring cheers to them. I thought about a Holiday Gift Drive where we can have new unwrapped gifts donated to an Orphanage. I created a poster and shared it on Facebook and the response was good. Books, toys, hampers, etc. were all welcome. To get the members involved, each was to bring in an item. We have received several donations already from companies and individuals.

We intend to wrap the gifts and have them personally donated to Guyana Red Cross Children’s Home specifically to Girls and Boys ages 2-14. We look forward to seeing those happy faces on delivery,” Sameerah shared.
The club also did an Easter Clothing Drive for the girls of the Mahaica Children’s Home (Ages 13-19), and as the holiday season is approaching, they are getting ready for their annual Holiday Gift Drive.

“Something exciting that we do is having zoom meetings with the authors of books that we’ve read. We already had three zoom meetings with various authors. We already have t-shirts, totes and pens. I can absolutely say that we are already a family. We not only have meetings, but we do things outside of the club. We volunteer together, have lunches together and attend events together,” Sameerah related.
The club currently has 14 members, having doubled in size for its one-year anniversary.