By Clifford StanleyMEMBERS of the local private sector collaborated with the Volunteer Youth Corps (VYC) and the Guyana HIV/AIDS Reduction and Prevention Programme (GHARP) to stage a five-week summer camp of fun and educational activities for more than 100 children between the ages of four to 17.

The programme was held at the VYC Centre at D’Urban Backlands under the theme ‘Heroes and Mentors’, while participants were drawn from around the city, the East Coast and East Bank, the West Coast and the West Bank.

Coordinator, Robin Lewis said participants were from the organisation’s orphans and vulnerable children and literacy and numeracy programmes.
The camp ended two Thursdays ago with a lively programme of song, poetry, dance and drama by the beneficiaries.

The five-week event was free of cost to the participants, thanks to the support of USAID/GHARP, some members of the private sector and individuals.

Those who assisted were the Continental Group of Companies, NT Computec, Mings Products and Services Limited, Mrs. Philomena Sahoye-Shury, Merriman’s Funeral Home, and Austins Book Services.

Lewis said that a unique feature of the programme had been visits to the kids by prominent Guyanese personalities in the legal and medical professions and in arts and sports.

Such visitors included Ramnaresh Sarwan, Tamika Marshall, Cleon Cadogan, Natasha Grovesner, Amanda Peters, Joy Wilson, Dr. Parkinson, Amanza Desir, Bevon Gordon and Jermaine Jackson among others.

The visits and interactions of children and role models were aimed at aiding career guidance.

Said Lewis: “We encouraged them to look up to these prominent Guyanese as heroes and mentors with the hope that their interactions with such high achievers would make a lasting impression on their minds and encourage them to strive for excellence in their chosen fields of endeavour.

The five week programme for the children included training in Phonics, Social Studies, Mathematics, Information Technology and Arts and Crafts and tours to the museum, the zoo, and Banks DIH Limited.

They also participated in a basketball clinic and a CARIFESTA X dance programme.

Each child was given a Certificate of Participation during the closing exercise.

VYC Programme Manager Suzanne French disclosed that the Corps is a voluntary, non-government and not-for-profit organisation made up of young people between the ages of 18 – 35, who seek to improve the lives of children and youth, while championing the cause of the economic, health and social sectors in Guyana.

She disclosed that the ‘Heroes and Mentors’ idea was developed to maintain VYC’s Mission of contributing positively to the development of children and youth.

“In the summer programme, attention was focused on highlighting key life skills and offering encouragement to the children in order to reduce the chances of them becoming involved in high risks behaviour.”

She disclosed that the programme was the fourth one held by the VYC for such children.

She however lamented the fact that it may have been the last such one since funds had run out.