Volunteers observe ‘Good Deeds Day’
─ with restoration exercise in Belle West Region 3
─ Department of Social Cohesion facilitates community outreach
DPI, Guyana, Sunday, April 7, 2019
Scores of volunteers gathered today to refurbish the Belle West Multipurpose Centre. Armed with brushes and tins of paint, they gave the building a much-needed facelift.
The young people who gave of their time were participating in a recruitment drive, community clean-up and restoration exercise in the community of Belle West, in Region 3. The event was organised by the Department of Social Cohesion to observe ‘Good Deeds Day’ (GDD).
This is the first time Guyana has observed the global day that unites over 2.5 million volunteers from 93 countries to do good deeds for the benefit of people and the planet.
Project Officer within the Department of Youth, Jermaine Watson said this day correlates with the Department of Social Cohesion’s vision for harmony, cohesion and unity. In this regard, the department held a community outreach to coincide with the restoration exercise. “Today is one of those days where we want to highlight the good deeds some people do that may seem insignificant but makes a difference in the lives of others.”
Director of Youth Melissa Carmichael-Hayes said this event is part of the Department’s effort to foster volunteerism among the nation’s youth. “We are here today to not only put out booths but to ensure that the young people who are a part of the community understand where we are going as a department in regards to volunteerism.”
According to the Youth Director, volunteers along with the youth from within the community “recognised the need for the Belle West Multipurpose Centre to be re-developed. So, instead of asking the ministry they decided to come together to do it themselves.” Carmichael-Haynes noted that is the sort of initiative that the department hopes to see from more young people.
The exercise held at the Belle West Community Centre Ground also saw a health care services booth and a mini-robotics camp among several other activities to involve the young people.
Launched in 2007, in Israel, businesswoman and philanthropist Shari Arison, through the Ruach Tova (NGO), connected people who wanted to volunteer and organisations in need of assistance.
This is also part of The Ted Arison Family Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Arison Group. Thus far, over 120 countries have joined and observed this event.
Neola Damon.
Images: Keno George.