Latest update December 25th, 2024 1:10 AM
Latest News
- Guyanese losing millions from Govt. and Opposition’s failure to to manage oil sector
- ‘Guyana’s Stabroek Block success is like a Michelin Star Restaurant’ – Exxon official
- Gaza appeals for help as Israeli army attacks key hospitals
- Face the Press, Mr. President!
- State makes application to revoke Brutus’ bail
Overseas college students construct home for Sophia family
A Sophia man who single-handedly took care of his five children after his wife died from cancer is expected to move his family into a brand new home today.
Some of the students of the Oakwood University, Alabama, US and from the St. Thomas College, US Virgin Island in front of the house they completed yesterday.
The two-bedroom home was built by a group of foreign students who have taken time off from their studies to engage in humanitarian efforts in Guyana.
They belong to a Seventh-Day Adventist group called the National Association for the Prevention of Starvation (NAPS), and comprise about 16 students from Oakwood University in Alabama and another six from the St Thomas College in the US Virgin Island.
The group identified the Sohpia family for the home after their plight was brought to the attention of the local arm of NAPS.
President of the local NAPS arm, Mrs. Hazel Garnett said a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in ‘B’ Field Sophia identified the family.
Their plight was relayed to the overseas group and the students in both Alabama and the US Virgin Island began several fundraising activities.
Garnett said the father, who asked not to be identified, lost his wife some five years ago to cancer and has been taking care of his five children—four boys and
one girl—whose ages range from 8 to13.
NAPS has been in Guyana for about six weeks and has done humanitarian work mainly in Lethem.
While in Lethem, the students conducted several school feeding programmes and evangelical meetings in Sand Creek, Aranaputa, Shea and other communities in Region Nine.
The students also constructed a multi-purpose centre in Lethem.
Leader of the US Virgin Island group Lakicia Foster said the past six weeks were very interesting.
This being her first trip to Guyana, Foster said she was more than delighted to work with the children they met and being able help the Sophia family.
She said that like the other members of her group, humanitarian work is what she has been called by God to do and it’s a choice she has made to give of her best to the less fortunate.
“We are all young people with a mission and this is our calling. We could have been out of college doing anything else of our choice but we chose this course,” Foster said.
Another member of the group from the Oakwood University expressed similar sentiments.
Shaanaya Kipp of the US said she grew up seeing her grandparents being a part of humanitarian missions and instead of wasting her youth, she has decided too to give back to the less fortunate. She too noted that their mission is all out of love for God and she will continue to encourage other youths like herself to get involved in humanitarian projects.
She added that when they heard of the family’s plight, the members of her group took time off from their curriculum to host fund-raising activities to raise funds for the construction of the house.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Merry Christmas, Ya Filthy Animals!
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- Ah, Christmas—the season of goodwill, good cheer, and, let’s not forget, good riddance!... more
Breaking the Chains of Poverty: A need for political will
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The year 2024 has underscored a grim reality: poverty continues to be an unyielding... more
Weekend Cartoon
