Collaborating for social change

DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Linden social activist and entrepreneur Anita Baron Elliott-Paul is collaborating with overseas and locally based organisations and individuals to help the disadvantaged in the mining town of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

According to Elliott-Paul, through her business Anita’s BizCon, located on the ground floor of the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) business incubator, she has been offering second chances to school dropouts, single parents and other disadvantaged youths and women in the community for several years.

“We tutor from Grades Three to Grade Six at evening classes and we do CXC classes. We are the only institution that offers CXC in January in Region 10 and in May-June we cater for school dropouts, slow learners, young adults, like single parents, young mothers,” the former Deputy Headteacher turned social activist said.

Elliott-Paul told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that her institution creates specialised packages to meet the needs of those who participate in her community-based educational programmes. Elliot-Paul said she often receives sponsorship for the programmes to assist those who need it most.

“We comprise that programme to match your need. Over the last two years, we had sponsorship from the New York University alumni. They have sponsored 15 students who completed six (6) months training in entrepreneurship and small business management, introduction to computers, social skills and life skills.  We also had sponsorship from other small organisations, for example like small businesses to do conduct programmes like customer care,” she said.

In addition, ‘Miss Anita’ as she is fondly called said beneficiaries receive appropriate guidance in choosing their career paths and making appropriate decisions which will ultimately redound in their success. She also said that the institution points students to agencies which provide sponsorship for them to move on to higher learning in many instances.

“It is not just grabbing students I need to know your career choice so that I can guide you toward the subject or area that you should choose so that it would be beneficial to you,” Elliott-Paul said.

The former Headteacher said upon the successful completion of their programmes, the institute, with help from the community, will then assist the students, to further their studies in fields such as nursing or teaching.

“We try to get hinterland scholarships for students to go to the University of Guyana because we have a lot of students from the mines and on the highway.  We are not just training them and leaving them… but at least we cater for 75 percent of them going out into the community must have a “plan B” and we help them to achieve that plan,” Elliot-Paul said.

Anita Baron Eliott Paul said she is currently preparing a proposal for collaboration with the First Lady Sandra Granger’s Programme and looks forward to other interested organisations stepping forward to sponsor at-risk youths. She can be reached at telephone numbers 6281-039 and 663-6428.

 

By: Kidackie Amsterdam