Families of Bush Lot Village, West Coast Berbice do not always get an opportunity to indulge in recreational activities and were elated when the owners of Jumbo Jet Auto Sales gave them an Independence Day treat.
For the second year, the company sponsored the Bush Lot Family Fun Day as a way of giving back to the community.
The event, held at the newly rehabilitated race course in the village, was hosted by Melissa Chattergoon – the daughter of Jumbo Jet’s proprietor, Nazrudeen Mohamed – and catered for the young and old.
Children and adults volunteered for the various races such as ‘lime and spoon’, ‘sack’, ‘tyre’, ‘donkey’, ‘needle and thread’, ‘buns eating’ and ‘balancing of bottles’. There was also a tug-of-war.
Those who came in first and second were awarded trophies and special prizes. Spectators were also entertained with cultural items which included dances and a fashion show.
The children had a grand time as they frolicked on the trampoline and bouncy-castle and danced on stage with television character, Barney. After that they followed Barney around, while parents took photographs of them with the mascot.
Melissa told The Scene that her family sponsored so that “families [could] come out as a whole to enjoy together.”
She said that since she “moved back to Guyana in 2008, I noticed that there wasn’t any recreation to take part in. I felt like the community, especially the kids and women, needed some sort of fun other than their regular routine.”
Melissa pointed out that they added the trampoline and other attractions to give the “children of the community a new experience since they aren’t exposed to too much.”
She said they also “encouraged people to come and sell all sorts of foods and snacks at the venue at no charge from us, just so they can make some money for themselves.”
Her family felt that Independence Day, being a national holiday, was the ideal time to hold the event to “acknowledge and enlighten the purpose of Independence Day” and to “make it memorable and fun.”
Melissa, who was pleased with the turnout, said too that they have always helped those in need.
Trampoline
The family had imported the trampoline for the event and after the fun day, presented it to the Bush Lot Nursery School.
The acting head teacher thanked the family for being so generous. She promised that the children would make good use of the outdoor equipment and that they would take good care of it.
Melissa said they thought of donating it, “so the students can have some sort of extracurricular activity to look forward to right at school.
I know they’ll have lots of fun jumping around and exerting all that energy.”
She said too that they have a complete swing and slide set to give to the school in a few months and noted that it “should encourage students to go to school.”
