Linden is set to benefit from a $1M donation for the rebuilding of the One Mile Primary School from an overseas-based Guyanese couple who also committed to providing laptop computers, books and other items for research centres, during a recent visit to the area.
Sahaboob Yassin and his wife, accompanied by a team from the Youth Coalition for Transformation (YCT) led by its President Jermaine Grant, met Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon at the RDC office before heading to the school site.
Yassin had pledged to make the donation and to fund the establishment of a number of research centres across Region 10, when he met with Solomon and a team during a recent visit to the USA. Solomon, AFC’s Nigel Hughes, APNU’s Aubrey Norton, Region 10 Member of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon and Pastor Maurice McKinnon travelled to New York and New Jersey to highlight the economic challenges and realities of Linden, and to forge partnerships with overseas-based Guyanese to support its economic and human development.
On welcoming the group at the RDC office, Solomon said Yassin’s visit was a demonstration of him honouring the promise he had made to the team. He then spoke about how residents had mobilised to rebuild the school and informed the group about the programmes for six needy communities. The school was destroyed by fire during the 35-day protest in Linden which ended in August.
Plans are also in train to establish community research centres in the underprivileged communities, targeting about 2,500 young people. The centres will be equipped with interactive libraries with internet access supported by GT&T and offer reading programmes.
After the presentation at the school, the delegation visited the Victory Valley Community Centre where the Yassins’ committed to providing eight laptops along with DVDs, flash drives, and literature for the libraries for the community centres. These supplies will be sent to Linden in two weeks’ time. A similar donation will be made to the five other research centres, including the one at Christianburg.
“YCT will assist the Victory Valley Community Group in crafting a programme for the management of the research centre based on organizational experience to equip persons with the necessary ability,” Solomon said.
Newly elected secretary of the Victory Valley centre Lynette Welch was enthused about the soon-to-be launched programmes by her group and the promised support. She said it was crucial for a parent involvement workshop to be held as a precursor to the reading programme to ensure that parents participate in their children’s education.
In brief remarks, Kissoon said she was delighted by Yassin’s pledge to donate computers, after he had already made a financial commitment to rebuilding the school.
The visit culminated with a trip to the Christianburg Community Centre which hosts sporting events such as basketball and football matches, which will be included in the plans for the research centres.
