IAC fetes hundreds of Wales children for Christmas

By Shemuel Fanfair

The Indian Action Committee (IAC) brought some much-needed cheer to hundreds of children on a cool Sunday afternoon at the Wales Community Centre Ground, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

The children and their parents were greeted by the pulsating sounds of Christmas classics as each child was given a meal and much to drink.
Their eagerness overflowed with expressions of great exuberance as Santa Claus travelled the distance to Wales bearing gifts which were accompanied by a party bag of snacks. There was also a random draw where Ronaldo Jacobs was the fortunate child to have his name selected as the winner. Walking away with an oversized white teddy bear, Jacobs struggled somewhat to carry off his prize, but this did not affect the sheer excitement that rested upon his face. His mother remarked that the teddy bear would fit right into the family’s Christmas decorations.
IAC Executive Member and media personality Neaz Subhan told Guyana Times that Wales was selected, given the impact the community would have faced from the closure of the sugar estate, which provided much sustenance for the area.
“Wales had to be the place for us to come given the fact that the Estate has been closed and people have been laid off and we feel that being with the children, bringing some kind of cheer to them, we are hoping that in some way, we can be able to put a smile to their faces at least for this season,” Subhan told this newspaper.
The IAC event has been held for more than 10 years, and the Executive Member observed that the IAC would seek out communities it considered vulnerable to support.
“The IAC will continue to do things like these by going across the country to areas to work with our friends and partners who came on board and helped us get some of the items and toys, and we are very grateful for their contributions,” he noted.
It was noted that Sunday’s event exceeded expectations by about 100 children. The IAC was established in 2003.