New Family and Children Holding Centre to be completed by March

─ once-known as the Sophia Drop-In Centre 

DPI, Guyana, Friday, January 11, 2019

The Ministry of Social Protection will, by the end of March, open the doors to a new family and children care centre, constructed at a cost of $144M.

The once-known Sophia Drop-In Centre, which provided shelter for vulnerable youths, will be reopened and rebranded as the “Family and Children Care Centre”. The facility will continue to function as halfway home for families who are less fortunate and transitioning. It will cater for the provision of necessities for its beneficiaries.

Director for the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), Ann Greene said the centre will accommodate more than eight families and aims to prevent the separation of children from their family during the period of transition.

The Family and Children Care centre, which will include a parental training centre, an Administrative Building, storage centre and a secured playground for the children that will be housed at the location, is in its final stages of completion with minor constructions to be done.

Further, she said that the agency is the duty bearer, but Child Protection is everyone’s business, and everyone should be able to play their part to ensure every child gets a bright future.

The Childcare and Protection Agency has improved their services through public awareness and increased reporting centres which will aid in the protection of youths across Guyana.

Ayana George.

Image: Giovannie Gajie.