ERC extends Christmas toy drive to Konashen community schools

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) in a press release said that it continued its holiday outreach on Tuesday, December 17, 2025, with a toy distribution drive in the remote Region Nine community of Konashen.
The exercise saw commissioners and staff of the ERC engaging children from the Konashen Nursery and
Primary Schools under the Konashen Benab, as part of the Commission’s ongoing commitment to fostering unity, inclusion, and goodwill during the Christmas season, it noted.
According to the ERC, Commissioners Ashton Simon, Reverend Rodwell Porter, Norris Witter and Deon Dick (Ras Khafra) led the exercise and personally distributed toys and educational items to the students.
The visit provided an opportunity for meaningful interaction with children, teachers, and community members, reinforcing the ERC’s mandate to promote harmony and good relations among all Guyanese, including those in hinterland and remote communities.
The distribution, it added, was met with enthusiasm and excitement, as children eagerly received their gifts in a festive atmosphere marked by warmth and appreciation. Teachers and community representatives expressed gratitude for the Commission’s presence, noting that such engagements serve as an important reminder that hinterland communities remain an integral part of the national fabric.
Gratitude is extended to His Excellency, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, for donating a portion of the toys distributed during these exercises, the ERC stated.
The ERC further stated that the Commission is of the view that initiatives such as these go beyond the act of giving, as they help strengthen bonds of understanding and reaffirm shared values of respect, inclusion, and togetherness.
The Konashen initiative forms part of a broader series of community engagement activities being
undertaken by the Commission during the holiday season, aimed at spreading messages of peace, unity, and goodwill, the release noted.