The small community of Belle Vue, West Bank Demerara, recently unveiled a public library, not just their community’s use, but also for the other communities in Region Three to access.
The library is the first of its kind in the region.
According to release the idea first took root back in 2020 when an employee from the Ministry of Health – Aruna Faria, sought out ways to emulate her leaders and give back to her community. Faria, who also sits on the board of directors for a Canadian Charity – Giving Health to Kids, reached out to her fellow board member in 2020 to ask for electronic tablets to assist those children who could not afford to access school work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her colleagues responded by providing 60 tablets and two laptops which were donated to children living in Belle Vue, Patentia, Canal Number 2, and Stanleytown Primary School where she donated 20 tablets to less fortunate children.
Faria in the release said that it was during this exercise that she realised the gravity of the unmet needs for educational resources and support. As a child, Aruna visited the Stanleytown Public Library located in Stanleytown, West Bank Demerara where she was born and raised by her parents. As an adult she moved to Belle Vue and would pass the Belle Vue Community Centre daily on her way home from work.
According to Faria, as stated in the release, her gaze often fell upon a vacant room at the entrance of the centre and after enquiring, she found that the room had not been allocated for any activities. While her intention was to build a library, she was unsure of how to acquire books and resources. However, this challenge was soon overcome when a chance meeting connected her with Joe Persaud, a philanthropist who has been giving back to his home country in many ways for over a decade. Joe was quick to assist with sending books and connecting Aruna with his friends from the Little Library in Canada to discuss further ways to bring the library to fruition.
Faria said in the release that she began by seeking permission from the local Neighbourhood Democratic Council and the Regional Chairman for the use of the room and upon receiving approval sought to commence necessary renovations. With the help of friends, family, and strangers, who shared her vision for giving back to her community, she received donations to
renovate the ceiling, rewire the room, redo the plumbing, replace the bathrooms, replace both external and internal doors, and replace the windows and locks, among other tasks. While much was provided by donations, Aruna personally stood the cost for the materials and labour, often times recruiting family and community workers to help.
In its final stages, the Little Library in Canada provided the much-needed assistance to build the shelves, complete the painting, and fund the purchase of the carpeting for the room. It was not an easy task to clear the books and move them from the storage location and then finally to the library. But with help from members of the community, the books were successfully transported to the library where sorting and packing commenced.
On March 17, the Belle Vue Little Library was officially opened. “It stands as a testament to the power of community and the boundless possibilities that emerge when we join hands in pursuit of a common goal. It is in these efforts that our children can embark on the journey of learning, discovery, and endless possibilities.”
