CASC participants pay special visit to Guyana Red Cross Society Children Convalescent Home

DPI, GUYANA, Wednesday, August 02, 2017

The children living at the Guyana Red Cross Society Children Convalescent Home received a special visit from the Caribbean Award Sub-Regional Council (CASC) participants today.

Assistant Field Officer of President’s Youth Award, Republic of Guyana (PYARG) Shanette Dey told Department of Public Information (DPI) that the visit allowed the CASC participants to give back to the community since they will be exploring and capturing on camera local sites before departing the country.

Dey explained, “They (participants)are happy I do not think they knew what they were coming to do because usually community service is physical work so when they came and saw that they were going to mix and mingle with the kids they were happy.”  She noted, “since they have already completed the expedition and exhibition, the remainder of their stay will cover learning about Guyana”.

This is Guyana’s third time hosting CASC with representatives from Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, St Lucia, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago under the 2017 theme, “Legend of the Eleven Giants.”

Sanje Christie, representative of Nassau, Bahamas said that though he enjoyed exploring the country’s forest and discovering the wildlife, he felt that it was insufficient time to view everything.

“My experience in the expedition was really amazing… I saw some of the eleven giants which was really amazing because they were mind blowing and now returning to help with the little children has been great, especially since they are all cute and welcoming” Christie noted.

Ochron Smith, also from Nassau, Bahamas remarked that the scenes, “were very different from what we have in the Bahamas especially the animals and it was nice to see the waterfall even how big the forest is”.

Kimberly Carlos, representative of the Cayman Islands shared that she was able to conquer her fears, once she saw how

beautiful the country’s forest is, especially the animals and particularly when crossing a river where teamwork was instrumental. She noted that helping out at the convalescent home is a great way to get youths involved.

“I think it is great to get youths involved right now because this is what we need out of the youths, ……however I enjoyed being able to see the rainforest, animals and even the waterfall, I think it is the best way to explore Guyana and I hope to come back,” Carlos noted.

Sarah Brooks, Guyana’s representative said while she enjoyed exploring the country’s forest, “it was a lot of walking…and it was challenging but we got to push ourselves to the limit to see it to the finish”. She noted that volunteering at the home is norm for her and she hopes that it will become the same for others.

The aim of CASC is to foster cultural integration and build the capacity of award youths in the Americas.

The main focus will be on the eighty plus (80+) silver and gold youth participants, unit leaders and volunteers who will be exposed to inter alia; certified first aid training, swimming and waterman ship, a study of Guyana and its expedition routes, the award in action, residential project, a qualifying expedition and cultural exchanges.

This expedition is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, CASC and the President’s Youth Award, Republic of Guyana (PYARG), M.S.

 

By: Neola Damon