FFP in Guyana

By Robby Brumberg

Food For The Poor is marking 23 years of working to help the poor in Guyana this month. To celebrate this anniversary of charitable partnership and cooperation, here are a few things of note about the beautiful South American country.

• Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America.
• Despite its large size, the population is only about 735,000 (35% of whom live in poverty). Major ethnic groups include Afro-Guyanese (the descendents of African slaves), and Indo-Guyanese (the descendents of Indian indentured laborers), with Amerindians accounting for about 10% of the population.
• The rarest stamp in the world, which just sold for a record $9.5 million, is an 1856 one-cent stamp from what was then called British Guiana (now Guyana).
• According to CIA Factbook, Guyana has 117 airports (11 of which are paved). The U.S. has 13,513 airports.
• Cricket is the most popular sport.
• Though they didn’t make the World Cup this time around, their national soccer team is known as the Golden Jaguars.
• Speaking of the World Cup, Guyana achieved independence from the U.K. in 1966, which just so happens to be the last time England won the big tournament.
• The capital city is Georgetown.
• Since 1991, FFP donors have built more than 3,130 homes throughout the country, including several community-wide projects that have led to the development of thriving villages.
• Other FFP projects in Guyana include orphan sponsorship, clean water projects, education initiatives, animal husbandry and agriculture projects, and micro-enterprise activities that help the poor generate income.

It seems clear that FFP donors and the FFP-Guyana office are making great things happen throughout the country, but don’t take my word for it. Please take a moment to read this beautiful Op-Ed written by a thoughtful FFP-Guyana donor who has seen the work firsthand.

Dear Editor,

As a donor to Food for the Poor (Guyana), the Non-Governmental Organisation which is successfully rendering its services to help comfort the poorest of the poor in Guyana, I realise that this organisation cannot be evaluated only by its name.

I keep abreast of the excellent work the entity continues to execute for the nation and would like to compliment the management and staff of Food for the Poor for their vision in helping the less fortunate in our country, not only by handouts, but by meaningfully empowering the poor and strengthening state institutions such as the Ministries of Health and Education and the Prison Service…

…As a resident of Essequibo, I have noticed at Lil’ Red Village 1 Onderneeming Sandpit that the organisation has fenced the school compound and installed see-saws and swings to make the children more comfortable. Construction work is also progressing close to the school, and on enquiring I learnt that Food for the Poor in collaboration with Lil’ Red Foundation is building a baker‘s shop to be managed by the residents of the community. The time taken by this organisation to sustain this village is commendable.

The woodmizer sawmill at Siriki will tremendously assist the Amerindians with their logging, and the chicken pens located at Capoey and Mainstay will go a long way towards empowering the residents of those villages.

I also noticed in the daily newspapers that the non-governmental organisation was the recipient of a national award, the Medal of Service, for its outstanding humanitarian work throughout the length and breadth of Guyana.

I venture to say that this organisation is doing more than working in the interest of the poor. It has become an institution that must be recognized and regarded highly for its competence in ensuring the comfort of the lives of the poorest of the poor in our country.

Once again compliments to the management and staff of Food for the Poor. May God continue to bless the organisation. Keep up the excellent work.

Yours faithfully,
Michael Mordecai

 

You can read the letter in its entirety here:

http://www.stabroeknews.com/2011/opinion/letters/10/29/food-for-the-poor-is-doing-excellent-work-in-guyana/