Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM
Learning Centre gears to further development
The Lusignan-Good Hope Learning Centre, which was officially commissioned on July 4, 2009, was built to assist the development of literacy among the population to give children a chance to fight poverty through education in a developing world.
Co-director and founder Sandra Shivdat and Mohammed Ally.
This is free through Restoring Hope International, Inc. (RHI), which has a further outreach programme to develop the centre and the environment, according to the Director, Mohammed Ally, and Co- director and founder Sandra Shivdat.
According to Shivdat, education is only one factor in the war on poverty, adequate food, clothing, healthcare and an acceptable home environment are also necessary for a child to achieve academic success.
“Research has shown that the increased stress level in a child raised in poverty affects the cognitive abilities. Our strategy is to work with parents supporting and encouraging them to invest in their children’s wellbeing and education.”
As a result, several ongoing projects that include building and operating a learning centre which is in its final stage and is strategically located to adequately service both villages Lusignan and Good Hope, are underway.
The founder revealed that majority of the funding to build the centre came from Guyanese and Americans in New York who hold fund raising activities.
The Lusignan-Good Hope Learning Centre
She added more volunteers and donations are needed since four teachers are present at the centre and the largest amount of volunteers gave their service in the August holiday last year, while many secondary school students turned out to volunteer their services to educate the children.
The school has approximately 300 students and caters for ages five to eighteen. During the week drop outs and other interested children would attend classes from noon to 17:00 hours.
Children from various other schools attend to receive remedial studies after their school dismisses at 15:00 hours.
She revealed the goal of the centre is to bring literacy to the forefront of the community and facilitate the development of knowledge;
(i) Place emphasis on the value of education by implementing innovative programmes to develop children’s cognitive abilities.
(ii)Teach children the necessary skills to think independently, to be inquisitive and creative and to help them develop as individuals who respect themselves and care about others.
(iii)Provide free access to educational services both to the children and to the mothers.
(iv)Work with parents to understand the power of education and inspirit mothers to embrace self-empowerment.
According to Mohamed Ally, the Restoration Hope International Inc. (RHI) mission is to put literacy in the forefront and facilitate the development of knowledge; place emphasis on the value of education by implementing innovative programmes to develop children’s cognitive abilities and teach children the necessary skills to think independently, be inquisitive and creative and help children develop as individuals who respect themselves and care about others.
He added among the other RHI initiatives were the ‘Adopt a Family’ project; ongoing work with impoverished families in the Good Hope and Grassfield areas in Lusignan and scholarships for school dropouts, while fighting poverty through education. (Rabindra Rooplall)
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