As the administrative and finance officer of the Guyana Red Cross Society, Bernadette Adonis has had to come out of her shell to confidently deal with business on behalf of the non-governmental, national voluntary organisation and to advise and assist in counselling in times of disaster when the need arises.
“Working with the Red Cross for more than 20 years now has taught me many things about giving and receiving and volunteerism and this has made me a better person all around. It has also made me less of the shy person I was even though I’m still introverted. Sometimes people are referred to me for counselling and advice and I do so to the best of my ability.”
Adonis nee Embrack, 60, was born in New Amsterdam and tried to follow the rules of her parents. They wanted her to be in the medical profession but she loved the arts.
“I never expected I would have been involved in humanitarian efforts that gives me joy and satisfaction in helping people when I started out on a career path. I only wish we can do more to help more people,” she told Stabroek Weekend.
Her one regret at this stage is that many people are not volunteering as they did in the past. “The Red Cross recruits continually because of the scope of work we undertake. We do a lot of routine work and undertake projects but we do not publicise what we do. During planned recruitment, a lot of people come out for the volunteer orientation but they expect payment for their service. When they hear we do not pay volunteers they don’t come back. We pay full time staff who administer the affairs of the society. We do provide a travel allowance or an out-of-pocket allowance to volunteers while on out-of-town duty or when they are in the fields.”
She noted that other local organisations provide a stipend to volunteers but the Red Cross cannot afford to as it depends on donors’ contributions, which she has the responsibility of allocating to various programmes and projects the Red Cross undertakes.
Anyone who meets the criteria of a volunteer may apply to become one.
According to the Oxford dictionary, volunteerism is the act of contributing free labor to conduct community service or support a nonprofit organization. It is the principle of donating time and energy towards a greater cause.
The pandemic Covid-19, Adonis said, took a heavy toll on volunteers returning in any great number. A few diehards continue to give their service. Pre-Covid-19, she said the Red Cross would have had some 150 volunteers but that is not the case right now.
Background
Adonis is a past student of New Amsterdam Multilateral School. In 1978, after writing the General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level examinations she worked for two years at the Ministry of Education’s New Amsterdam branch before moving onto the now defunct Guyana Agricultural and Industrial Development Bank (GAIBANK) on the Corentyne Coast in 1980.
She was married in 1985 and moved to Georgetown with her husband in 1986.
With a focus on her professional development, Adonis took several courses in management and administration at Critchlow Labour College.
In 1990 she resigned her position at GAIBANK to pursue a bachelor’s degree in public administration at the University of Guyana, graduating four years later. The mother of three daughters, after
graduating stayed home for a while before accepting a job in 1997 at the then Guyana Water Authority (GUYWA), where she stayed until 2000.
One day at GUYWA, one of her colleagues showed her a Red Cross ad advertising a vacancy for an administrative officer. Her colleague convinced her to apply, which she did, and she was the successful candidate. She joined the Red Cross on May 4th 2000 and has been there since.
“Volunteerism was new to me but I have learned a lot about volunteerism. There is a thing about Red Cross and volunteerism. Once you start volunteering and you get satisfaction from it, you never want to stop volunteering wherever you go. I have seen staff and volunteers who have left or migrated. They continue to assist however, they can. They always have the Red Cross at heart.”
As administrative and finance officer, Adonis has seen the ups and downs of the organisation and has served in various capacities and on different projects. “I have been exposed to all aspects of the Red Cross, volunteering, working on different projects through the financial side of the organisation, and I have been trained in many areas in terms of disaster preparedness and disaster management and to ensure the efficient running of the organisation.”
While Guyana is not prone to earthquakes, hurricanes and deadly widespread flooding, Adonis’ training was put into effect during the 2005 floods that saw the East Coast Demerara inundated with floods waters when the Demerara Conservancy overflowed its banks due to heavy rainfalls.
“The disastrous flood was unfortunate but it gave me great satisfaction to serve our people and bring relief to their plight. We also accommodated two families of about ten, including children, on the top floor of the Red Cross building for a month. They had nowhere to go. They were flooded out and could not stay in their homes. We fed them and ensured they were comfortable. When they were able to return home, we assisted in rehoming them with relief supplies and some household appliances that they had lost.”
The heavy rains during 2005 did not only affect the East Coast Demerara but other areas of the country, including Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Nine and Ten. “Basically we provided relief countrywide.”
During the floods, Adonis dealt mainly with the disaster management from the financial side of it. “I had to ensure that the funds were used for what they were intended. Other people went into the fields to distribute the relief supplies. We were able to do that with donations from corporate Guyana and donations from overseas.”
Asked how the society obtains donations, Adonis said, “We reach out to some donors and corporate Guyana also reaches out to us.”
She noted, “During the festive seasons, like now, a lot of individuals and private sector entities donate in cash and kind. These are people who really see Red Cross as the place to donate. During the year, donors are not so forthcoming but we welcome donations throughout the year. The society is sustained by donations. We also receive an annual subvention from the Government of Guyana.”
Projects
As admin and finance officer, Adonis has to ensure that the society’s programmes and projects are funded as best as they can be.
This includes the Guyana Red Cross Convalescent Home in D’Urban Backlands, the meals on wheels programme in which between 35 to 45 seniors and shut-ins are provided a hot meal from Mondays to Fridays. “They may not be able to cook and are living with relatives who cannot provide for them during the week or the work day. We do not provide for them on holidays or weekends. We have been doing that for some years now.”
The convalescent home, then known as the Princess Elizabeth Home, was opened in October 1951 and was first located on Parade Street. Kingston. It then catered mainly for children from the interior who had fallen ill and needed somewhere to convalesce in the city.
The new facility in D’Urban Backlands was a joint venture between the Rotary Club of Georgetown and other donors. It was formally opened on June 7, 1980.
“The home is not only a refuge for convalescing children but it has also accommodated children who were abandoned at the Georgetown Public Hospital or children who were moved from their homes by the Child Care and Protection Agency because they were either victims of sexual abuse or domestic violence. Some of the children are reunited with their families under improved conditions or some are kept at the home until they are adopted.”.
A number of fairly affluent people who have adopted children, Adonis said, continue to have a relationship with the Red Cross or directly with the convalescent home. “Some see if and how they can get things done or get other partners or colleagues to assist in getting things done for the home. We welcome these contributions.”
The Red Cross also provides training in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator training. Training is provided to a number of educational institutions, mining and manufacturing companies and other places of work. “That is a source of income for us. Again it is not sufficient but it helps. So we are available for training.”
The Red Cross also provides a first-aid post at public events, such as the recent Guyana Teachers Union inter-schools’ athletic, swimming and cycling championships, school sports and at Mashramani events, including the parade of the bands.
“We are there to do whatever we can to stabilize whoever falls ill and then we take them to the hospital via ambulance if a visit to the hospital is necessary.”
She noted that one of the most common response to children fainting at school sports is that the child or children say they had no breakfast or lunch. She asked coaches and managers of athletes to ensure they are fed before and during the sporting events.
One of the projects the Red Cross undertook was ‘The Be Safe Project,’ which targeted children, particularly children in the younger age groups in the nursery and primary schools.
“We did it at a time when there were reports of a lot of sexual abuse of children. The two-year project was funded by the Canadian Red Cross. We went into the school to teach about touches. The right and the wrong touches. That was well received and we hope others will continue that work.”
