Latest update April 8th, 2025 7:13 AM
UG spreads Christmas cheer to children in Sophia
The Public Relations Division, University of Guyana (UG), recently brought Christmas cheer to 50 nursery and primary school children from the Sophia community. The annual Santa’s Helpers party was held in the Education Lecture Theatre, Turkeyen campus.
At the party, the children got gifts from staff and students of UG, who selected the names of the recipients from the Christmas tree launch in November. Each family also received a small food hamper.
Newly appointed Registrar, Dr. Nigel Gravesande, was on hand to extend warm Christmas wishes to the children. And lecturer in the Faculty of Education and Humanities, Dr. Mark Tumbridge, entertained the happy and excited group with some magic tricks.
Support to make the event a reality was garnered from not only faculty staff and students of UG, but also the management of The Spicy Dish, Church’s Chicken and the UG Canteen.
“They all showed love and compassion for the less fortunate children in their donations and contributions to the charitable cause,” the UG Public Relations Office announced yesterday.
The Santa’s Helpers programme had its genesis in 1993 when the Public Relations Division collaborated with the Faculty of Natural Sciences to bring Christmas cheer to children in orphanages in Georgetown.
About five years later, the focus was placed on children from the surrounding communities.
The names, ages and gender of the selected children are placed on a Santa cut-out and at the launch, staff and students are invited to select a ‘Santa’ and buy an appropriate toy.
The toys are given to the children at the Christmas party hosted by the Division on the campus. In 2012 and 2013 a small food hamper of basic food items was also given to each child.
Last year, the Division hosted 50 children from the Child Care Protection Agency, Drop-in Center, 83 Hadfield Street, Georgetown. Additionally, the Division was able to give the children school stationary donated by UG staff and students. Books donated by the University’s Library were also presented to the Center.
Santa’s Helpers is intended to provide an opportunity for staff, students and service providers at the UG, Turkeyen Campus, to reach out in a gesture of goodwill to the wider community at Christmas time.
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