Children from various regions across Guyana were recipients of back-to-school items, which were made possible by donations through the Give Another Chance Foundation (GACF).
The presentation ceremony was held at the St Joseph High School in the presence of Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence; Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green; the Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, members of the Foundation and the awardees.
The majority of the recipients were outstanding achievers in the recent National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA); they received book bags and laptops.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Public Health Minister noted, “We are here to celebrate something that is good, something that would add to you boys and girls to enhance our education and as a result, to enhance the type of person you will
The Director of Sport, Christopher Jones presenting the items to one of the recipients
be in the future.”
Lawrence also urged the gathering of young students to pursue their aspirations in whatever field of studies they choose to pursue and related that there would be significant growth in the children’s capabilities if these gestures continued.
“In order to make those dreams a reality, you have to ensure that you are focused and you have to focus on education because that is one of the main keys that are going to unlock the door of opportunity for you so that you can blossom and grow,” the Minister said to the students.
In delivering the feature address, Mayor Chase Green noted that, along with the supply of materials to enhance their education, the students must also be steered away from drugs and must not be in any environment which fostered abuse and other dangerous situations.
“We have to say no to abuse at all levels. We have to say no to drugs, because I know it is reported many times of the sale of drugs outside of our prominent schools and that is something we have to look into,” the Mayor said.
Meanwhile, there are plans to take this initiative which has been ongoing for the past eight years to other areas such as Wakenaam Island and other rural areas. This will be done later in the week.
