With over 17 years under its belt, the Nirvana Humanitarian Foundation (NHF) has been providing a range of help here.
Located at Kastev, Meten-Meer-Zorg on the West Coast Demerara and with its main branch being based in New York, USA, Nirvana has touched the lives of many persons in unfortunate circumstances.
The most recent event was during the holiday season when over 200 children and senior citizens were given special attention at two parties organized in their honour.
They were treated to a scrumptious meal and goodies while the children received gifts and the old folks were presented with food hampers worth over $7,000.
The invitees also came from neighbouring communities, including Greenwich Park, Zeeburg, De Willem and De Kinderen while a group from the Prabhu Sharan orphanage at Cornelia Ida (CI) also attended.
The event is held annually and would normally feature a cultural programme with “active participation.”
President of the NHF, Pandit Ramdular Singh of the USA said both the young and old people look forward to the treat.
The children’s party was held earlier in the day and they had fun playing games and dancing while the old folks who came later also gyrated to the music. They were expected to benefit from a health talk as well.
Other local and overseas members of the organization, including Ramesh Deochand, the Public Relations Officer and actor/comedian of New York and Boodnarine Persaud, Traffic Chief of ‘B’ Division were also present.
Established in 1997, the organization started training young persons on life skills including computer, electrical, sewing and courses which are expected to be restarted soon. A branch has also been set up in Venezuela and an office in Canada.
The NHF also hosts a bi-weekly programme at Meten-Meer-Zorg throughout the year for the elderly persons where they are treated to a meal. They also participate in cultural shows which include dancing, singing and role play.
Singh said they are in the process of obtaining a projector to offer added entertainment on ‘big screen’ and for them to have a chance to interact.
The organization also plans to host talks on health and law enforcement as well as on other issues affecting persons in their communities.
It had distributed a large quantity of books to three schools in the vicinity as well as specimen exam papers to each school.
Singh said they hosted successful feeding programmes twice weekly at four schools for one year. He said the project could have continued had the teachers not found it was too burdensome
to supervise the children while they were eating.
It has also published a yearly magazine to highlight its achievements which include expansion of the facility which is equipped with a computer lab that offers low-cost training as well as a well-stocked library.
The building was reopened in August and attended by Minister of Culture, Dr. Frank Anthony who had commended the NHF for its work.
The organization has also provided support to the Prabhu Sharan orphanage, the Hindu school – Saraswati Vidya Niketan, both at CI and the Camal International Home in Berbice.
It has helped with educational activities, such as awarding top students at the Grade Six and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate exams and sponsored reading competitions.
Persons with medical expenses have also benefitted greatly from the services. The NHF also continues to make a difference in the lives of a number of underprivileged persons, especially through regular donations to organizations including the Dharm Shala.
Not only has the NHF assisted the less fortunate in Guyana but it has also reached out to West Indian immigrant communities in New York as well as poor families in the Caribbean.
But the aid did not stop there and when disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and tsunami affected Gujarat in India, Pakistan and Central American countries, the organization readily assisted.
The members of the self-sustaining organization also provide entertainment to their supporters both locally and internationally by promoting a number of cultural activities as fund-raising ventures.
It has also established itself in Queens, New York and is famous for the ‘Laff Til Yuh Belly Bust’ comedies, featuring Mahadeo Shivraj, Deochand and others.
It has also held a very successful and well-received musical series titled, ‘Down Memory Lane’ and was expected to host two other plays: ‘Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs’ and ‘The Visa Wedding’ at its Meten-Meer-Zorg location.
The organization has also been publishing an annual magazine that highlights its various activities and features contributions from young writers.
