TWO months after it was officially declared open, the Center for Equity, Opportunity and Innovation is already reshaping the lives of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

It is said to be opening doors to economic empowerment and showing that ability shines when opportunities are inclusive.

Located at the Empower Guyana building in Palmyra, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), the facility was established under the Office of the First Lady, and according to previous reports, is a pioneering project that directly responds to the needs and voices of the PWDs community.

At this facility, more than 120 persons with disabilities will be skill-trained, building confidence, and becoming entrepreneurs, with the space and resources for these individuals.

In a video uploaded to First Lady Arya Ali’s Facebook page, a number of persons spoke positively about their experience at the facility.

Bkeesham Kanhai, a technician employed at the centre, who also has a physical disability said he was excited for it to come to fruition. He disclosed that he has been doing this job for a while, noting that he likes to work.

Jaideo Nankissore is a deaf and non-verbal artist, who has been painting since he was 14 years old. A woman, who appeared alongside Nankissore said the young man has been in a number of competitions with his artwork, and has made appearance at the Castellani House, where he has sold some of his artwork.

Identifying herself as a “slow learner,” Theresa Sugrim has dreams of becoming a seamstress.

Currently a garment construction trainee, she said that she is excited to be doing this. She plans on starting her own business to help her family.

A visually impaired chef, Abiola Sandy, noted that she is happy to meet other persons like herself, adding that she feels comfortable at the centre.

She cautioned, “Don’t laugh when you see certain things happen to people because, it could happen to anybody.” She later added, “I’m happy for this building because it makes a difference in our life.”

A visually impaired Administrator at Empower Guyana, Streema Jagmohan noted that while they have employed 120 persons at the centre, there is space for more.

“Many of the persons that are currently employed here are earning an income for the first time ever in their entire life span,” she said. “As a person living with disability myself, personally, this is something that persons with disability advocated all our lives for — inclusion and opportunity and a space to prove ourselves.”
She highlighted that the Government of Guyana and the First Lady have provided them with the opportunity and a space where they can feel included.

Having first-hand experience and understanding of the barriers that persons with disability face, Jagmohan said the centre now eradicates that.

According to the Administrator, participants are constantly building their confidence, forming relationships with professionals, and are now more valued in a society that once overlooked their abilities.

She stated, “So I myself having to witness that every single day here is empowering for me and everyone here. To see the transition, some people who came shy and unsure of what they wanted or where to go are now leaders in their own respective field. It’s just an awesome experience.”
A passionate advocate for persons with disability, Shreema said this initiative has proven that persons with disabilities are included.

“It does not always have to be a support of finance. It can simply be giving us the respect and the dignity and an accessible space for us to prove ourselves, and by doing this, you’re not giving us a favour, but you are opening a whole new door for creativity, for inclusivity, for a better Guyana and what we can bring to the table would benefit the entire country,” Jagmohan related.