Launches ‘children at risk’ project
The St. Francis Community Developers (SFCD) of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, held a ceremony earlier this month to commission a new building and to launch its 2008/2009 Family, Youth and Children at Risk (FYCAR) project.
The building, located on a 10-acre plot, was purchased from a businessman at Williamsburg, Corentyne and transported and assembled in three parts at a cost of $42M.
The upper flat of the building consists of the coordinating offices for the United States Agency for International Development/ Guyana HIV/AIDS Reduction Project – USAID/GHARP for voluntary counseling, testing, mobilizing and supporting services.
It also houses a conference hall and training facility while the concrete lower flat houses the Children Friendly Spaces, internet café and the Foster Care Umbrella Sponsor-ship Scheme (FOCUS).
The new structure is situated farther down the street from the previous building which would still accommodate a restaurant belonging to SFCD.
Alex Foster, President of SFCD, thanked USAID/GHARP for the support in providing the services which have proven “to be the best in the entire Caricom” by the Caricom Secretariat in Guyana.
He declared that along with the ten-acre plot of land, SFCD has another seven acres at Limlair and soon the club would create “a beacon of hope for all of our beneficiaries…”
Another building – funded by the Food for the Poor organization – is under construction next to the new facility for the establishment of a day care centre in September.
But, he said, the construction project has been stalled due to the unavailability of stone.
He pointed out that the FYCAR project was launched to embark on another year of collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and includes a number of activities with its 22 partners in Region Six.
The SFCD along with the Albion Chapel and Skills Training Centre (ACSTC), Mibicuri Community Developers (MCD) and the FACT Group of Corriverton have “found favour with UNICEF” to enhance a number of services.
Among the 22 partners, the ACSTC is the first to establish a playschool, where children are kept from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm so single parents are able to seek employment.
Some of the services that the public would benefit from through the groups are the nutritional enhancement project, where a balanced diet would be provided to 2,000 children across the region on a weekly basis. There would also be training and educational support to over 175 collaborating partners across Guyana.
The other part of the project, FOCUS, would provide sponsorship for at risk families, career opportunities, technical interventions, counseling and housing through FFP.
According to Foster, FOCUS would also provide advocacy for the distressed groups, especially those with mental and physical disabilities, as well as responsive education and training.
The project also caters for Children Friendly Spaces which have increased from eight to 53 in the region. The spaces are providing a safe and comfortable environment for vulnerable children who never had access to toys.
Members of the groups thanked UNICEF for approving the funding and said that the projects would make a difference in the lives of vulnerable persons. Foster also acknowledged the assistance of Leon Davis and FFP and said they have been “a pillar of strength…”
Regional Education Officer, Shafiran Bhajan who complimented SFCD on the projects said that they would signal hope for the 21st century and “persons would see less neglect for the beneficiaries.”
Among those present at the ceremony were UNICEF Representative, Johannes Wedenig, Doris Roos; head of Child Protection Services at UNICEF, Kwami Asaidu of USAID/GHARP; and Michelle Branker, Public Relations Officer of FFP.
