Sports and youth development in Berbice took a giant step forward last Friday when the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) in association with the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints handed over $1.5 million worth of sports gear and equipment.

The equipment will be used to promote sports as an avenue to keep youths off the road and away from drugs and crime.

A total of 50 cricket clubs, schools, government agencies, NGOs and churches received donations from the two organizations.

Eighteen cricket clubs received $800,000 worth of cricket gear which included cricket balls, batting pads and gloves.

Thirty-two churches, NGOs, schools and government agencies received $700,000 worth of equipment for several sports including chess, basketball, volleyball, football, draughts, dominoes, table tennis, softball cricket, checkers and circle tennis.

Among those receiving equipment were the Guyana Police Force “B” Division, Guyana Prison Service, Guyana Fire Service, New Amsterdam Catholic and Anglican Churches, NCN Berbice Sports Club, Lower Corentyne Secondary, J.C. Chandisingh Secondary, Port Mourant Secondary, Tutorial Academy, Belvedere Primary, Rose Hall Town Primary, CCI Mission and Corentyne Comprehensive Secondary Schools.

RHTYSC Secretary/CEO, Hilbert Foster in delivering the feature address at the handing over ceremony stated that the presentation was the third of its kind since 2008 with sponsorship from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and that a total of $3.5M worth of gear has been shared out during that period.

The long standing Secretary/CEO, who was named the National Sports Personality for 2009, described the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club as the best club in Guyana.

Foster said that one of the policies of the RHTY&SC was to make every club and youth organization, follow in its footstep to ensure that the youths of Guyana are involved in and can use sports as an alternative to life on the road.

He stated that his club, which will celebrate  its 20th anniversary this year, will host over 100 programmes and projects targeting sports, education, culture and charity as well as community and religious development for youths.

He challenged the groups and schools receiving the donations to use the gear for its intended purpose and to work overtime to produce sportsmen and women who would not only excel on the field but who can be positive role models for all youths in Berbice.

Foster expressed profound gratitude to the leadership and members of the Latter Day Saints Church for sponsoring the programme and for its commitment towards youth development.

He explained that the church, which is the RHTYSC’s largest sponsor, has touched and changed the lives of thousand of youths and expressed the hope that the relationship between the club and the church would continue to grow.

Elder Tenisingh, a Rosignol-based member of the church, stated that his church was committed to making positive differences in the lives of youths, the elderly and the less fortunate.

He explained that serving others was part of the church’s teaching and all funds raised for the charity programmes are donated by the membership.

Elder Tenisingh stated that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was pleased to work along with the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club as it was not only a role model organization but one that produces results.