Six months after a fire destroyed the Shaheed Girls Orphanage at Oleander Gardens, East Coast Demerara, a spanking new building was commissioned yesterday.
The simple opening ceremony saw the attendance of Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, and Mayor of Georgetown Ubraj Narine, among others.
During the ceremony, Treasurer and Chief Executive Officer of the orphanage, Raheema Rahaman, said the reconstruction process was challenging at the start but with the support of Nandlall and others, they were able to complete the construction. Rahaman recounted that as she worked to get past obstacles faced, she solicited Nandlall’s help.
“It was getting difficult after we started the reconstruction. There was so much obstacles in my way but I reached out to Anil and he was very instrumental in helping us getting the materials,” she recounted. The orphanage burnt down in October last year.
Rahaman said that many donations for the construction of the building came from persons with humble backgrounds and the orphanage was grateful for their donations.
“Simple families donated and we were able to complete the building but we need furnishings now. We are trying to make it as homely as possible for the children…I hope we will be able to do so in time,” Rahaman said.
While the building is completed, she pointed out, they still have bills to clear and owe money to the contractor.
Nandlall yesterday told Stabroek News that he recognised the efforts of the home and it was a privilege to solicit help on their behalf.
“For the past 30 years, this home has kept children from being on the streets. It has been a home for the homeless and hopeless,” he said, while adding that it has prevented children from being involved in a life of crime, poverty and drug addiction.
“This orphanage has helped thousands of people to mould themselves into figures that society can benefit from,” he emphasised.
The former Attorney General stressed that the opening would bring a level of awareness to the work the orphanage does and its commitment to help improve the lives of less fortunate boys and girls. In the same breath, he said that he is appealing to the public to support his drive to equip the home with a computers, printers and internet service.
“I am looking to get 38 computers with printers for the children. Education plays a major part in the eradication of poverty but if we are going to educate children in this technological age, we need the computers to put them on the right path for the future,” Nandlall said.
Minister Ally, in brief remarks, said everyone needs to play a part in the lives of children to ensure they enjoy their childhood. She said that with a loving stable environment, children can be able to recognise their full potential and grow into responsible adults.
Ally commended Nandlall for his contribution to the reconstruction of the building. “Thank you very much Anil for all that you did and all that you contribute,” she said.
Both Rahaman and Nandlall expressed gratitude to the people who generously contributed towards the rebuilding of the home.
At about 6 am on October 20th last year, the two-storey Lot 7-8 Oleander Gardens building, which housed 18 girls and their caretaker, was reduced to ashes as a result of a fire.
Caretaker Shanti Pooran, 59, was alerted by an orphan of smoke emanating from the upper flat of the building. Pooran raised an alarm after she was alerted and the Guyana Fire Service and police were summoned.
The building, which was not insured, housed the living quarters and prayer room on the upper flat and a kitchen and dining area on the lower flat.
An investigation determined that the fire was started by an occupant of the orphanage.
A source familiar with the findings of the investigation told Stabroek News that the investigators were able to conclude that the fire was set in the bottom flat of the eastern side of the building.
The newly constructed Shaheed Girls Orphanage at Oleander Gardens.
