Latest update February 7th, 2025 2:57 PM
Latest News
- AFC Leader Nigel Hughes welcomes any investigation into lands he acquired
- Pres. Ali defends Jagdeo’s attacks on critics
- VP Jagdeo tries to compare 75 acres of jungle lands Nigel Hughes wants to acquire with 35 acres of prime city lands sold to Ed Ahmad and others
- Greaves tells Govt ‘clean money’ used to acquire New York properties- Jagdeo
- Trump says Israel would hand Gaza to the US after fighting is over
All Saints Presbyterian (Scots) sets up social services centre
NEW AMSTERDAM, BERBICE — The All Saints Presbyterian (Scots) Church is now in the process of establishing the All Saints Social Services Centre.
Members of the St Francis Community Developers organization.
This project is to be commissioned in time for the 189th anniversary in 2009.
The All Saints Presbyterian (Scots) Church, situated at Princess Elizabeth Road and Vryheid Street, in New Amsterdam, was established on April 8, 1820.
Elder of the church, Rupert Lewis, said that it was decided that the building must be used to offer service to the community after it was handed back to the church in mid-2007.
During an earlier interview, Region Six Education Officer Shafiran Bhajan had said that the All Saints Primary School was occupying that building since its establishment. She noted that it was in a dilapidated state, and was finally condemned after protest action and several pleas by parents.
The students now occupy a new Government structure on the adjacent plot. According to Elder Lewis, the shifting of the old structure took approximately three months, and was done at a cost of $1million, a lot of money for the cash-strapped church. A matching sum was expended on minor repairs. Work commenced on October 17.
Elder Esther Stephen is appealing to the public for assistance to make the church’s venture a success. The church is in need of financial help and building material, since there is still more work to be done on the physical structure.
The church is also calling on persons with suitable skills to offer their service, in order to ensure that the venture is completed.
It is intended, at a later date, to enclose the bottom flat. This would then accommodate the canteen, social research centre, community centre, and youth friendly space.
Mrs. Stephen said that the church is not known for its wealth, and has expended all funds in its possession to get the ball rolling. “We have the will to work and to ensure that we enhance the community and the lives of the people involved, especially the young ones. This is something we have been doing over the past 188 years. This project would also create jobs for persons within the community.”
The day care facility would be of minimal cost to the public and is to focus mainly on single-parent families and the less fortunate. “No one shall be turned away.”
The project is being done under the guidance of the St. Francis Community Developers. UNICEF provided the furniture, while the St. Francis Community Developers gave the toys, reading material, technical and other support.
President of the St. Francis Community Developers, Alex Foster, explained that it would offer services such as counselling and would also have a home work club, skills training, research and drop-in centres, social services section, the child-friendly day care facility, and play school.
When completed, the building would be able to offer most of the services offered by the St. Francis Community Developers and their 21 support groups which span several areas along the Corentyne.
“When in operation, the play school would be the 7th of its kind in Berbice. It is also intended to be a place for children to stay while their parents are at work.”
The All Saints Social Services Centre falls under the ambit of the UNICEF-funded Family, Youth and Children at Risk project.
Recently, UNICEF handed over some $22 million to the St. Francis Community Developers and some of its support groups for the family projects. The Family Youth and Children at Risk project deals mainly with families in crisis, disadvantaged young people, and vulnerable children.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
What Guyanese leaders can learn from Donald Trump
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News-There is little dispute that Donald Trump knows how to make an entrance. He does so without... more
OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Weekend Cartoon
