“StoryBoard” initiative receives funding from UN Spotlight Initiative

Under the United Nations Spotlight Initiative, the Human Services and Social Security Ministry has received funding from United Nations and the European Union for the StoryBoard Initiative which was launched on International Day of the Girl Child, October 11.
The initiative will target facilities such as the Mahaica Children’s Home, Camal Home for Battered Women and Children, Bal Nivas, Sophia Care Centre, Children and Family Care Centre, Cornelia Ida Children’s Home, and Hauraruni Girls Home.
Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud has expressed delight that an added benefit of this initiative is the creative therapy that it will provide to the girls.
“I believe the outlet is important and timely, and I have no doubt the opportunity to chronicle their experiences through story-telling/writing will serve to inspire and help other young people,” the Minister expressed.
Six journalists from the Guyana Press Association have volunteered to be mentors on this programme, and the Ministry wishes to express its gratitude to them.
The course will consist of six sessions with a two-hour session per week, where the facilitator will explain key elements of story writing and teach on different language tools that are used in story writing. President of the Guyana Press Association, Nazima Raghubir, who is volunteering as a mentor at the Sophia Care Centre, welcomes the opportunity to work with the girls.
She said, “Already, the feedback has been positive, and much work is being done. The girls, their stories, their ability to tell their stories, and write about how they feel, could help to boost morale and self-esteem. For that, the project earns our support”.
At the end of the six weeks, the children should be able to produce a story. The stories will be printed and published in a book.
The Human Services and Social Security Ministry intends to partner with key Private Sector partners to secure publishing of the stories. The monies earned from the publishing of these stories will be remitted back to the beneficiaries of this programme, to help them in supporting themselves after they have aged out of the alternative care system.
To this extent, the programme aims to strengthen the social safety net for girls in alternative care facilities. The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security also intends to continue this programme beyond the initial funding of Spotlight, and integrate same into its social safety net programme for gender-based violence survivors.