THE Office of the Prime Minister, the Department of Public Affairs, and the Ministry of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce, in collaboration with community leaders, held a three-day kite-making workshop on April 4-6 in North and South Sophia, Georgetown.

The workshop, which targeted children from ages eight to 14, was well received by the adults and children. The Sunday Chronicle spoke with a few persons from the area who expressed their gratitude to the government, Minister McCoy, and the other ministers who distributed kites to Sophia and all the children across Guyana.

Florence Dazell, a resident and a Police Officer of Sophia, explained how the workshop benefited the children and brought them together.

“This was a very good initiative from the government for our community and all the communities across Guyana that have this type of activity. We have so many children in Sophia, and they are just running around and idling at times, with nothing to do, but this workshop brought the children together.

“When I looked at the children and saw how interested they were in learning, I said that after today, as long as I hear of a workshop somewhere and I can take my niece and nephew, I will go. I am also encouraging other parents and guardians of children to do the same. It takes a community to raise a child, and we have to show an interest in them.”

Officer Dazell related that she took her niece and nephew to the workshop, where they, along with the other children, interacted and bonded over the making of the kites. According to her, while the children were having fun, they also voiced their excitement about learning the art of kite-making.

“I will like to thank the President and his government for the wonderful job that they are doing by giving back to the people, but more so, the children of Guyana.
“We need a lot more of this to be done on a regular basis, and we also need more role models to guide our children in the right direction, especially in Sophia, so that they can do better for themselves.”

Officer Dazell said more youth groups need to be formed.

“I am asking if the government can have youth groups in Sophia and the other communities so that these children can have meaningful things to do with their time and also learn new skills.”

Another resident of Sophia, King Jarad, said that he was happy to see that the government had this workshop so that the children could have had something to benefit from as well as look forward to. He also said that he enjoys seeing the development of the play parks and seawalls where families can spend their weekends and “have a nice time.”