The Guyana-Jamaica Friendship Association (New York), Inc. (“GJFA”) is to sponsor a Breakfast Programme for all students at the Mashabo Primary School.
A release from the group said that with an emphasis on creating sound bodies and minds, GJFA at the same time will donate cricket equipment to help encourage physical activity by engaging the students’ love of the game. The presentation is to be made tomorrow at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.
The release said that the Essequibo Coast Mashabo Primary School serves a largely impoverished and indigenous Amerindian community that has among the poorest health and educational outcomes in Guyana.
“After the school was adopted by GJFA earlier this year, it was felt that the outcomes of the students could be immediately and positively affected by concentrating on their health, in particular, their students’ daily nutritional intake and exercise. Since then, GJFA has been in consultation with Mashabo’s Headmaster, Mr. Quado Vancooten, various nutrition consultants in Guyana, as well as with Guyana’s Ministries of Education and Amerindian Affairs. Today’s announcement means that Mashabo Primary School will offer a healthy breakfast to all of its 104 students for an average of 20 school days per month at an annual cost of approximately GY$1M”, the release said.
GJFA was formed in January 2014 as a collaborative effort between members of the Guyanese and Jamaican communities in the New York Tri-State area. Its mission is to improve the lives of Guyanese and Jamaicans living in the less affluent areas of these two countries. To learn more, email GJFA at guyjamfriendshipassoc@gmail.com.
