Local advocate’s selfless acts

NO stranger to hard work, sacrifice, and faith, Sharon Austin had a hard life, but a good upbringing taught her kindness and compassion for others early on.

Austin believes this quality helped her see life differently, accept what she can’t control, and show kindness and compassion without expecting anything in return.

She is the friendliest, most caring, and most hardworking person, and she enjoys learning new things and meeting people.

Austin joined ballroom dancing because she loves music and dancing and wanted to challenge herself by learning new things without limiting herself.

For Austin, ballroom dancing has helped her build confidence, improve her communication with others, and express herself through movement in a way that makes her feel alive and capable of doing anything.

“I enjoy being part of the dance family and the positive atmosphere it creates. I believe that it is never too late to learn something new, and I am grateful for the opportunity to grow through ballroom dancing,” she said.

Austin told Pepperpot Magazine that she also likes helping others, and that’s why she decided to volunteer on Wednesdays and Thursdays with the Open Gates Community Group.

She wanted to give back to the community and contribute her time and effort to support their work.

Austin said volunteerism is meaningful and rewarding for her, and she enjoys helping others, working as part of a team, and knowing her contribution is appreciated and valued.

“I believe that giving back to the community is important because every act of kindness can make a difference,” she said.

She said she is grateful for the opportunity to volunteer with the Open Gates Community Group and looks forward to helping and supporting others whenever she can.

Austin grew up in a loving and caring environment with both parents. She has two elder sisters and one brother and is the third child.

She added that her father was very strict about their upbringing at home, which helped lay a strong foundation of morals and manners and taught her the importance of respect, kindness, honesty, and helping others.

“My family taught me to work hard, appreciate what I have, and always treat people with love and respect,” she said.

Austin disclosed that she lost her beloved father at an early stage in her life, and her mother became a single parent and had to take care of them, which strengthened her resilience.

She attended St. Angela’s Primary School, where she participated in dance, drama, and debates; then she went on to Charlestown Secondary, where she took up athletics.

Austin was the school’s champion girl in those days, and she had a tendency to help others.

“As I grew older, I faced different challenges that helped me become stronger and more responsible. These experiences shaped me into the person I am today and taught me to value family, friendship, and giving back to others,” she said.

Austin has two sons but would always care for other children because she loves children, even if they are not her own.

She is a native of Hadfield Street, Lodge, but relocated to North Ruimveldt, another ward of the city, when she was younger.

Open Gates Community Group

Open Gates Community Group (OGCG) is a skills-training project designed to address unemployment and societal ills within the community.

It falls under the umbrella of Eden Gates Farm, formed and registered in 2022 by a group of like-minded people for farming and as a safe space for the community, but later evolved into a training facility for the common good.

From farming, they developed into a snackette, a recreational facility (safe space), a variety store, a meeting place, and an OGCG to facilitate training and capacity building for villagers in Parika.

The farm is multi-purpose: they grow long-term crops like citrus, raise fish and poultry, and grow coconuts. They hope to build a shade house soon to expand the farm.

The OGCG has seven administrative members, with 14 volunteers and ground support personnel scattered across the country.

Eden Gates Farm will also train people in agriculture and involve villagers, especially those with small businesses like cement block-making and workshops, by taking on trainees to empower people, including youths and the elderly.

So far, people are responding favourably, but they need some more support. People are more excited about the training sessions that started in January this year in catering, sewing, computer and mechanical training.

Parika, East Bank Essequibo, has two housing schemes with about 140 households and an additional immigrant population of more than 40 households, so it needs capacity and human capacity building, but not limited to that area alone.

Dr Godfrey Washington, speaking on behalf of the group members, told Pepperpot Magazine that OGCG encompasses two aspects of training and development: human capacity building and community capacity building.

He explained that, with an emphasis on holistic development for each participant, enabling them to be more grounded individuals, community welfare is a focus for residents as they work to make their community safer, healthier, and more progressive.

of volunteerism know no boundaries