FIRST Lady Arya Ali on Sunday hosted more than 200 children from 11 orphanages at the Promenade Gardens for a kite-flying and Easter egg hunt activity.

The First Lady said that the activity allowed hundreds of children to forge new bonds through social activities which included kite flying, sports, and dancing. With support from corporate sponsors, she said that they were able to provide the children with meals, beverages and sweets.

“Positive social development is very important for our children. It influences their self-confidence, empathy, their ability to develop meaningful and lasting friendships, and instills a sense of importance and value to those around them,” Mrs Ali stated.

She said that the 11 orphanages that participated in the activity are currently being sponsored under her ‘Adopt an Orphanage’ initiative.

Those orphanages are: Joshua House Children’s Centre, Bless the Children’s Home, Ruimveldt Children’s Home, St. John Bosco Orphanage, Shaheed’s Boys Orphanage, Shaheed’s Girl’s Orphanage, St. Ann’s Orphanage, Prabhu Sharan Orphanage, Hope Children’s Home, the Red Cross Convalescent Children’s Home and Canaan Children’s Home.

She also thanked the sponsors, whom she said helped to make the event a memorable one for the children.

The sponsors were: Ansa McAL, KFC Guyana, Tropics Enterprise, Guyana Port Inc, JS Guyana Inc, Hits and Jams, Star Party Rentals, Suri Trading, and Candy Corner.