Following a successful event last year at the inaugural National Anti-Violence Candlelight Vigil, the organiser has decided to make it an annual event, with the second vigil set for September 10, under the theme ‘Take A Minute, Save A Life’.
Voices Against Violence, a loose umbrella of NGOs, FBOs, CBOs and other entities, organised some 300 vigils in communities across Guyana last year to mark World Suicide Prevention Day. 
In addition to bringing people together, this vigil is an attempt to get communities across Guyana involved in anti-violence activism while fostering the concept of communal action for community wellbeing. It is inexpensive and easy to organise the event and all participants need is a candle or use a cellphone.
Vigils can be organised by religious institutions, local businesses, sport and youth clubs, political party groups and schools. Organisers select routes around the community, assemble at a pre-selected place and hold a rally whereby selected individuals can speak on the theme of anti-violence in general or selected aspects such as suicide or abuse. If desired, inter-faith prayers can be conducted and cultural programmes organised. During the walk-about, anti-violence slogans can be chanted.
For the purposes of this vigil, all of the following are considered acts of violence either against self or others: trafficking, suicide, drug and alcohol addiction, domestic and child abuse, rape, incest, teenage pregnancy, road carnage, dysfunctional relationships, neglect of the elderly, abuse of the mentally and physically challenged. Besides, relationship violence and its dysfunctional socialisation spawn, which are more and more looming as issues of critical urgency, can and do shape personalities that easily gravitate towards crime and attending violence. Thus, violence should be addressed holistically and when communities come together they can begin to become more caring and build more togetherness while getting their feet wet in the practice of mindfulness. In effect, anti-violence must become everybody’s business and immediately so! The candle light vigil, held in communities throughout the nation, is a step in this direction.
Besides, the vigil will foster community collaboration, focus on saving lives and preventing harm, and foster the process of societal transformation.
Currently, almost 50 entities are coordinating this year’s vigil. Additionally, letters seeking support have been dispatched or will soon be dispatched to various Government Ministries along with the President, the Prime Minster, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the People’s National Congress (PNC). With almost four weeks to go, the organisers are hoping to have other groups involved, as well as more media and Government agencies and Ministries.
They are also appealing to local and community leaders, businessmen and other influential characters as well as community organisations, including religious institutions and sports club, to please help bring off this activity by ensuring that a vigil is held in every community, collaboratively where possible.
In order for the organisers to map all vigils, provide any necessary assistance, including publicity, ensure that all vigils are acknowledged and lauded, and use photos of all vigils to create an online collage, ‘Voices Against Violence’ is requesting that all vigil organisers/potential organisers to contact them.
In Guyana, call Nazim on telephone numbers 644-1152 or 646-4649, Leslyn on 636 1189 or Chandanie on 697-9968. In North America, call Annan on 646-461-0574, Sham on 954-778-3222, Sharmin on 718-506-8225 or Dr Rodney on 516-286-8952.
Emails can be sent to [email protected] and contact can be made with the following persons on facebook: Gemini Bae Irock, Nazim Hussain, Sham Tilak, Franklin Rodney, Sharmin Prince, Leslyn Holder and Annan Boodram.
