Raising 46 pre-schoolers
Even parents with the largest families do not have 46 pre-school age children to feed, clothe and care for every day, but that is the task facing the staff of the Guyana Red Cross Society Children’s Convalescent Home.
And the cost of maintaining such a large number of very small children is very substantial, with this year being categorized by Administrator Shaneika Bailey as a tough one.
All children − but very young children in particular − need a great deal of individual attention, which is why the home welcomes private citizens who are prepared to donate their time and services to helping out the staff who number 13 to a shift.
The children, who range in ages from 6 months to 5 years, have not enjoyed the most advantageous start in life; Administrator Bailey described them as being “children of different and difficult circumstances.” They had been abused, neglected, abandoned or malnourished, she said, or else were the overspill from orphanages.
When Stabroek News made an early morning visit to the home recently, crying filled the air. There was a buzz of activity as employees and volunteers took on the daily challenge of changing diapers, bathing, potty training, cooking and feeding the children, among the many other chores which would pretty much typify their day.
Apart from the children’s physical needs, there are programmes in place to cater to their development in other ways. At three years, the children attend the play school which is located on the bottom flat of the convalescent home. They are taught by an early childhood educator. When it is time for them to attend nursery school they go to the Enterprise Nursery School which is just nearby.
Recreational activities are not forgotten, and every Monday during the school year, the oldest children go swimming at the Colgrain Swimming Pool, while at least three times yearly, all but the smallest children go to the zoo, the creek, or on any other outing sponsored by outside parties. The children are also taken to church by the Pastor of the New Covenant Church.
In cases where there is a need for medical attention, they are treated at the Lodge Health Centre, although emergencies require a trip to the Davis Memorial Hospital which is not far away.
Visiting hours at the home are from 10 am to 12 noon and 3 pm to 5 pm daily for parents and others desirous of visiting the children. According the Administrator, the home also facilitates adoptions for persons desirous of doing so.
A letter of introduction to the Administrator is the first step which anyone desirous of volunteering their services must make. The letter has to include details of the prospective volunteer, their hours of availability and two references. The voluntary assistance needed covers a range of activities, including maintenance, transportation, medical (doctor, dentist, physiotherapist, etc) and general help with the children.
The home has been in existence for over half a century, having first been opened on October 31, 1951 as the Princess Elizabeth Children’s Convalescent Home.
In March 1977, members of the Rotary Club of Georgetown and the Guyana Red Cross Society met to plan a new building, and almost a year later in February 1978, the club officially launched a fundraising campaign for the project. By June 7, 1980, the new Red Cross Children’s Convalescent Home was ready to be officially opened by then President LFS Burnham.
When Stabroek News enquired about the year in retrospect, the Administrator replied, “It was a tough year, one that witnessed a decrease in donations and an increase in the needs and a concomitant increase in the cost to satisfy those needs.”
The list, of course, never decreases, and the Administrator said they were always tremendously grateful to their regular donors and friends for their gracious and generous support. Apart from its subvention from the Ministry of Health it receives donations from business entities such as the New Building Society, in addition to private citizens and churches.
For persons and/organisations desirous of making donations, the home requires supplies such as food items, cleaning and hygiene products and programming supplies, although this list is by no means exhaustive.
Food items include products such as full cream milk, bread, eggs, peas/beans, fruit and vegetables, sugar, rice and cereals, peanut butter, cheese, jams and jellies, cooking oil, fish, beef and chicken.
The cleaning and hygiene products required are pampers, lotion, baby oil, baby wipes, toilet paper, baby powder, sweet soap, soap powder, disposable gloves, sheets and towels.
The programming supplies for which the home would be grateful cover items such as paper of all colours and sizes, pencils, markers, crayons and paints, children’s scissors, glue, rulers, paintbrushes, sturdy toys, games, puzzles and books, art smocks and swimsuits. Financial support is also always very much appreciated. (Femi Harris)