The dream of a Canada-based West Berbician to make a difference in the lives of less fortunate children was fulfilled recently with the launching of the Aditya Library & Resource Centre (ALRC) at Bath Settlement.

The centre would also house the Aditya Kids Trust Fund Foundation

(AKTFF), which has as its motto; “Investing in the Future by Helping Kids” –through which the ALRC was formed. Both projects are being undertaken by local and overseas members who started off by providing financial assistance [a portion] to children who require surgery overseas.

President Narchand ‘Archie’ Mohan pointed out that while many children were born into poverty that does not meant they should be denied an opportunity for a better life. Apart from helping with medical expenses, the foundation also helps children with education.

The library and resource was established so persons can enhance their knowledge and gain computer skills to fit in with the age of technology at a cheap cost.

At the launching ceremony, Mohan said several families residing in Canada have already started monthly sponsorship of US$400 to assist deprived persons desirous of taking the courses and for the upkeep of the facility. A 20/20 cricket tournament and cultural show was held in August last to raise funds for the establishment of ALRC. He urged persons to make the best use of the facility which would also house a playschool.

He pointed out that the AKTFF was set up in late October 2007 in memory seven-year-old Aditya Ramdhan of Bath, who was diagnosed with a heart condition. It has since been registered with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

Prior to the establishment, Aditya’s parents had approached Mohan, who was holidaying in Guyana at the time for assistance. With the help of Mohan, the Ministry of Health and other persons he was sent to India for a heart surgery. Unfortunately the surgery was not successful.

At the child’s funeral, Mohan had vowed that “his death will be celebrated by making a difference in the lives of less fortunate children with the blessings of the almighty.”

Subsequently, through the “generosity of a few exceptional individuals” and with the idea of Loraine Kissoon who is also a Canadian, the AKTFF was formed. The foundation involves other members residing in Canada, including vice-president Mohamed Safie; directors Sham Harripersaud, Nazir Ghanie, Iqbal Rahaman; as well as the seven board members who made a commitment to help children with various medical complaints.Persons who require assistance have been contacting the overseas members through local arm, which is made up of the vice-president Mahendra Persaud; secretary/treasurer Zulfikar Alli; and the board members Surujpaul Mohan, Padmini Persaud, Tilpatie Narine, Dhanpaul Mohan and Nikita Tejram.

Before the advent of the AKTFF, another child, Shazena Khan was assisted and had a successful heart surgery in India. Aditya was sent thereafter but was not so lucky.

Mohan, recounting his life while growing up in Guyana, said he was motivated to help children because he did not want them to be deprived as he was as a child. He mentioned that growing up in a family of eight children was not easy and recalled that his mother could not afford to pay his exam fees and had to borrow the money.

Among the other persons whom the foundation has helped are, 12-year-old Ravi Dev Sain of Bath New Scheme who was diagnosed with cancer in the nose and brain. After two surgeries and several trips to the Georgetown Public Hospital, his mother Bhagmattie Sain, had given up trying to get help for him until she learnt of the AKTFF and approached Mohan. Currently the child is undergoing radiotherapy at the Cancer Institute of Guyana (CIG) and members are still afraid that he may have to travel overseas for surgery.

Tricia Narine, 22, who developed an “unknown disease” that has caused her tremendous discomforts and headaches, told the gathering that she got relief after the foundation provided funding for her to travel to Trinidad for surgery and treatment during last year.

Narine, of Number 11 Village, said she had already signed up to write the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) at age 16 but had to quit school before the exams because her condition had worsened. She expressed gratitude to the AKTFF for giving her a chance to live and is even preparing for her wedding very soon.

The foundation has also provided some money to assist another child, Farziena Haniff, of Canje to travel to India where a successful heart surgery was performed.

Scholarship

The AKTFF has also provided a scholarship to a promising youth, Dhanpaul Mohan, 17, to attend the University of Guyana upon his completion of the Rosignol Secondary School.

Dhanpaul, who learnt of the AKTFF through his brother, said he is so happy “I can achieve my goals.” He would be pursuing a degree in accounting as he intends to become a professional accountant.

Mohan explained that the foundation solicited US$30,000 towards the scholarship from Ken Singh of Atlas Cargo & Shipping in Canada. The foundation is also assisting two students of the Bush Lot and Fort Wellington Secondary Schools with money and school supplies.

Meanwhile three students who excelled at the last National Grade Six Assessment were honoured with prizes and sponsorship. The students honoured were Durgaswarie Singh and Darshanie Poonie of Bath Settlement and Jewel Thom of Number Five Village, West Berbice. Additionally, the foundation also provided sponsorship to Bath Settlement youth, Andrew Dennis, to participate in cricket in Trinidad.

Plane ride

Mohan mentioned that he gave a treat to 18 needy children in West Berbice by surprising them with a plane ride. He along took them on a trip to the zoo, seawall and other places in Georgetown. He got the idea of taking the children on the plane ride because they were always fascinated because he came on a plane. When he learnt that they had never seen a plane up close he first took some of them to the airport when he was returning.

On another visit, he arranged the trip for the children with the Roraima Airways. When they saw the plane, they did not have a clue they would be boarding it. He said after they flew over some places in Georgetown and West Berbice, the children were spellbound.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Bath/ Woodley Park Neighbourhood Democratic Council, Cecil Ramdat, who said he looked around at the facility before the ceremony and was impressed with what he saw. He also congratulated Mohan and his team and urged them to keep up the good work.

Also present at the ceremony was President of the West Berbice Cricket Association, David Black, who remarked that he was “happy for another educational leap in West Berbice” and pledged to provide the library with cricket manuals.