The Regional IYV Secretariat’s School Competitions are well on the way in Guyana. The Primary School competition requires students to perform a voluntary activity of their choice, and then submit a written report or essay entitled “ What we have done for our Community”.  Participants of the Secondary School competition are required to create a mural or wall hanging depicting their “ Vision of a Better World”. The competitions will be judged at the National level and at the Caribbean level. 

The National prizes are:

Essay Competition
1st place  $25,000 cash prize, $10,000 worth of books, trophy and certificates 
2nd place  $15,000 cash prize, $7,500 worth of books, plaque and certificates
3rd place  $10,000 cash prize, $5,000 worth of books, plaque and certificates.

Art Competition
1st place  $50,000 cash prize $10,000 worth of Art materials, trophy and certificates
2nd place  $40,000 cash prize, $7,500 worth of art materials, plaque and certificates
3rd place  $30,000 cash prize, $5,000 worth of Art materials, plaque and certificates.

Caribbean prizes are:

1st place Class Field Trip for Five Pioneering Students to the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Trophy and Certificates
2nd place   $8,000 (EC dollars) cash prize, Plaque and Certificates
3rd place  $5,000 cash prize, Plaque and Certificates

RED CROSS 

May, world over is Red Cross month, and celebrations in Guyana this were in collaboration with the Guyana IYV 2001 Committee. The Guyana IYV Committee facilitated extensive media coverage on Red Cross Day Tuesday 8th. The secretary General, Ms. Dorothy Fraser appeared on GTVs morning show Guyana Today; a volunteer at the Children’s Convalescent Home was interviewed by Prime News and at the Red Cross headquarters several other volunteers working on various programmes were interviewed. These interviews were broadcast on national television and radio. 

On Saturday 19, there was a Thanksgiving Interfaith Service and Exhibition at the Umana Yana in Georgetown. The exhibition showcased the Guyana Red Cross Programmes and the service was in thanks giving for Red Cross Volunteers. Among the invitees were the British High Commissioner Mr. Edward Glover and his wife Audrey.

Celebration activities spilled over to June, when the President of Guyana His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo presented certificates to Volunteers and Patrons at the Red Cross dinner held in celebration of the International year of Volunteers. Mrs. Audrey Glover made the feature presentation. In her presentation she called on NGOs to work together for the success of volunteerism; they were encouraged to pool their resources, bring their own particular area of operation into focus, compliment each others work and draw on each other’s strengths so that together their efforts will become more effective. Her complete presentation can be read on line www.iyv2001.org.gy Messages and Presentations.

Dr. Ruben del Prado of UN Aids made a presentation on HIV Aids in the region, which highlighted Red Cross’ role in the national fight to address the disease. The Red Cross Patron Circle was also launched with pledges totaling two million dollars. Mr. Richard Olver, Resident Coordinator UNDP Guyana, chaired the evening’s preceding.

 President Bharrat Jagdeo (9th from right) with recipients of Volunteer appreciation certificates 

VOLUNTEER WEB SITES

Volunteer Youth Corps launched their web site www.vyc.org.gy on Friday 18th May. Dr. Carol Becker, USAID assisted by Coordinator Renée Peroune were the first to access the site, which provides information on VYC’s projects and links to partner organization. Speaking at the launch Kenroy Roach, chairman said “the website would furnish data about other local NGOs for the world to know how they are helping to develop this nation”.

Ecovision, a University of Guyana student based organization aimed at increasing the awareness of tourism in Guyana launched their website www.ecovision.org.gy on Friday June 29, at the Umana Yana. The site was launched amid an exhibition of ecotour operators. Prime Minister Samuel Hinds (Acting President) was the first to access the site, which has available amongst other links, research papers conducted by students of the Tourism Programme University of Guyana. – History of Tourism in Guyana 30 years; arrival and departure statistics and a map which has direct links to tourist opportunities in Guyana. Ecovision volunteers will soon embark on a massive school education awareness programme, which will encourage and understanding of the industry and initiate career interests

INTERNATIONAL BAZAAR

Resident Coordinator UNDP Guyana, Mr. Richard Olver, passed on to the Guyana IYV 2001 Committee an invitation from the Rotary Club of Demerara to participate in its first ever International Bazaar on Saturday May 26th. IYV had a space of 20’ x 20’ and invited other volunteer organization to share the space and showcase their work. Participating were:
 Habitat for Humanity, Youth Challenge, Volunteer Youth Corps, Guybernet, Lifeline, Red Cross and Help & Shelter, who had a “stamp out domestic violence and child abuse” campaign where persons dipped their shoe soles in paint then stamped on fabric. The fabric along with signatures has been mounted at the Help & Shelter Office.

IYV PRESENTATIONS

The IYV presentation has become standard in our networking process. It has proved to be quite useful in establishing the background to IYV celebrations and collaborations with volunteer based organizations.

The first of two presentations made in May was to the Queens College Interact. This group is quite active and has regular volunteer based activities, including a programme with the Joshua House for orphans. On Saturdays they spend time with the children reading and assisting with homework and basic care.

Another presentation was made to the Rotaract Club of Georgetown Central. This group is also quite active and had an environmental schools essay competition tabled for June. You can read more about them at www.rotaractcentral.org.gy

Media Coverage 

Media coverage in May focused on volunteer/ service groups/ organizations and individuals in Emergency Relief and in June on the Environment. 

The following groups/programmes were featured on national television, radio and newspapers:

Guyana Red Cross
Guyana Ex-Soldiers Benevolent Assoc.
Seven-Day Adventists Church Relief Programme
Ecovision
Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Clubs

UN AIDS

Two National United Nations Volunteers, Dane Solomon and Stacey Wilson attended the United Nations Special Assembly on HIVAids in New York June 25 – 28,2001. More on this when they return!

In Guyana the National Aids Committee organized a “Wake up Guyana” initiative where churches/organizations were required to arrange for the church bell, bell crier etc to make a resounding sound between 5-6 am on Monday 25th to bring to the attention of all the seriousness of the HIV Aids pandemic in Guyana. 

The Guyana IYV 2001 Committee coordinated with the wharves along the Demerara River to sound the horns of the ships in port. The response was well with ships at John Fernandes Ltd. taking the lead.

June - Environment

The Guyana Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) organized a ‘green walk’ around the city of Georgetown. Many volunteer organisations participated including UNVs.

EPA also hosted an exhibition of environmental organizations and clubs at their headquarters on Thursday 7th June. Certificates of Commendation were given to ten school based environmental clubs. IYV Coordinator Renée Peroune and NUNV Monica Sharma presented the certificates on behalf of the Guyana IYV 2001 Committee and the EPA. 

Discover where you live! the theme for the green walk in Linden was quite appropriate as many saw for the first time what the mined out areas looked like. This walk, organized by FREED - Friends Restoring Economic and Educational Development; the Regional Democratic Council Region 10 and the Mayor & Town Council Linden was in response to World Environment Day June 5th. Participants were from various NGOs in Linden and the Environmental Protection Agency in Georgetown.  The adventure stirred a keen interest in the environment among the youth and they plan to develop environmental clubs in collaboration with EPA and explore ecotourism - nature trail walks for the adventurous.

VSO Sea Wall Cleanup VSO volunteers along with “Through the eyes of women” organized a sea wall clean up exercise on Saturday 16th June. With the help of ninety volunteers in six hours, two hundred and fifty bags of rubbish were collected. Volunteers included the Minister of Health Dr. Ramsamey, Mr. Olver UNDP Resident Coordinator and his family, VSO programme Director Marlyn Jordan and Jean Guillaumot, General Manager of the Guyana Pegasus Le Meridien. 

WHAT’S NEXT?
During the month of July media focus will be on the Private Sector and Corporate Volunteering. NBIC has a volunteer group, which we will work with this month, hence using the opportunity to initiate corporate volunteering among other business entities. The theme this month also presents an opportunity for volunteer based organizations to recgonise and thank business that have contributed to their work and success over the years. 

Regional Summits

We’re off to the regions!  Regional meetings commencing in Linden and Berbice - New Amsterdam, RoseHall and Corriverton are about to take off. We will establish regional IYV Committees to disseminate information and to support regional volunteer groups. 

Postal Stamp
Look out for the Guyana IYV/ Guyana Post Office Corporation stamp competition!!! The Guyana IYV 2001 Committee and the Guyana Post Office Corporation have embarked on a competition to design the Guyana IYV stamp. Bhutan, Japan, Mali and Ecuador have IYV stamps see what they look like – www.iyv.org/iyv-eng/global/materials/stamps or www.un.org/Depts/UNPA/aboutissues/
 

We have adapted the IYV power point presentation and made it Guyanese. Using Guyanese organizations and pictures, the presentation seeks to introduce the concept of the International Year of Volunteers to various organizations/ individuals in our networking process. 

Three presentations were made:

The first, on Monday 26, March to the LIONS of Ruimveldt at their statutory meeting. LIONS and LEOs from visiting clubs were also present. Club Presidents showed a great interest in a collaborative activity to mark the year. There will be follow up meeting to 

Another presentation was made on Saturday 31, March to the National Coordinating Committee for Global Youth Service Day. Committee members were from GuyberNet, GuyberClub, Queens College Interact; Soesdyke Youth can Move the World, Evergreen Nature Study Club and Volunteer Youth Corps. The Committee embraced the IYV objectives and invited the Guyana IYV Committee to join the National Coordinating Committee planning for Global Youth Service Day activities in Guyana. 

The third presentation was made on Friday 6, April to the UNESCO Clubs of Guyana. Secretary General UNESCO Guyana Ms. Carmen Jarvis was present and was heartened at the objectives of IYV, noting how necessary it was to promote volunteerism since some older organizations (Girl Guides) were in great need of volunteers. There will be a follow up meeting to plan an IYV UNESCO Clubs of Guyana activity. 

IYV Work Shop
The Minister of Culture Youth & Sports Hon. Gail Teixeira extended an invitation to the IYV Coordinator to make a presentation on volunteerism and IYV in Guyana to participants of the Commonwealth Youth Programmes Certificate Course in Youth Work 2001. Twenty-three youth leaders from regions 2,3,4,6,8,9 & 10 attend this residential training session from Friday 27 – Sunday 29, April 2001.

After a presentation on IYV in Guyana participants in regional groups came up with IYV activities they would like to work on in their respective regions. Some activities suggested included the establishment of a ‘mentoring’ programme for disadvantaged youth, establishing affiliates/ branches of Georgetown based volunteer organizations i.e. Rights of the Child (ROC) and IYV workshops to promote volunteerism among the youth.

The Guyana IYV Committee will collaborate with the Ministry of Youth Culture & Sports in the execution of Regional Volunteer Summits, which will incorporate these suggested activities.

Regional Outreach

Mahadia
An IYV presentation was made at the Youth Challenge Guyana ‘Youth Skills Summit’ in Mahadia Region 8. Over one hundred and fifty youth from five villages in Region 8 attended the weekend summit. Sessions in martial arts, craft, mechanical engineering, HIV Aids awareness and substance abuse were conducted. Youth Challenge International Field Programme Director Chris Curnow presented the session on IYV and volunteerism prepared by the Guyana IYV Coordinator. Youth were encouraged to serve within their communities and volunteer their skills and time to the benefit and development of their communities, region and country. The response was heartening and there will be follow up IYV Region 8 activities in collaboration with YCG and the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sports.
 

Linden
Habitat for Humanity hosted ”Volunteers in Concert’ on Saturday 7, April. It was a night of full entertainment singing, poetry, drama and stand up comedy. IYV Coordinator was invited to make some remarks and used the opportunity to commend Habitat especially the Linden Affiliate for their service to the Linden community.
 

World Health Day

World health Day was observed on Saturday 7, April. The Chief Medical Officer, Mr. Rudolph Cummings, was interviewed on radio re: Volunteerism in the Health Sector. He stated that due to the unique human resources problems in Guyana Volunteers have been able to play a specific role in assisting the Ministry in meeting the needs in the areas where we do not have professional skills. Volunteers over the years have contributed to various health programmes providing clinical service, been involved in the planning and design of health programmes and in lecturing at the University of Guyana to students in the medical and para medical programmes.

This year’s focus is on mental health with the theme “ Stop Exclusion Dare to Care” and the Minister of Culture Youth & Sports, Ms. Gail Teixeira, indicated that she would be pursuing a programme to address the issue of suicide, which has seemingly become prominent in some areas. This presents a new opportunity and challenge for volunteers in these areas to work along and support such programmes as they are set up. 
 

Media Coverage 

Television coverage this month focused on volunteer/ service groups/ organizations and individuals in the Health Sector. Health Care 2001, a group of volunteering health professionals, dedicated their weekly television programme to Volunteerism in the Health Sector. ‘Guyana Today’ a Guyana Television Company production also highlighted Volunteerism in the health sector.

The following groups were featured:

• Health Care Channel 69
• Community Based Rehabilitation – 
• Volunteer Youth Corps   -
• Red Cross
• Life Line GTV Channel 11
• Health Care 2001
• Habitat for Humanity
• Volunteer Youth Corps

Habitat for Humanity

Founder and President of Habitat for Humanity International, Millard Fuller, his wife Linda and Gary Torre Nelson VP Latin America/ Caribbean, visited Guyana on Wednesday 11, April 2001. Mr. Fuller’s day started with a television interview “Guyana Today” and a radio interview for the magazine programme “ Panorama”. Mr. Fuller paid courtesy calls to the President of Guyana Hon. Bharrat Jagdeo who indicated his commitment to volunteer with Habitat in their ‘World leaders Build’ project and American Ambassador, Mr. Ronald Goddard. A community meeting was held at the Nazarine Church Georgetown where the visiting team met with homeowners, volunteers and national and local committee members of Habitat Guyana and Affiliates. The day’s visit ended with a gala cocktail reception at the Georgetown Club, where Mr. Fuller made a presentation on Habitat.

During the days visits a total of two million seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($42,750,000.00) was donated to Habitat from Courts Guyana and Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company respectively assist in Habitats housing programme. Negotiations with Mazda Mining Company for a housing project in Region 8 were also initiated.

Habitat for Humanity Guyana Inc with Affiliates in Linden, Georgetown, east Coast and East Bank, is a non -profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and making decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat volunteers work with homeowner partners to build these homes.

Global Youth Service Day

Global Youth Service Day is and annual global event that celebrates, recgonises and mobilizes the year round contributions of young people to build their communities and their world through voluntary service and the contributions made by the community for empowering young people.

In Guyana GYSD was observed from Sunday 15, April 2001 commencing with a Church Service at the St. Georges Cathedral to Saturday 21, April 2001 ending with an exhibition showcasing the GYSD activities undertaken by several youth groups during the week and highlighting activities pursued by youths in Guyana.

The Guyana IYV 2001 Coordinator, made presentations at the opening ceremony of the exhibition, which was declared open by United States Ambassador Mr. Ronald Goddard; and at the closing ceremony. Ms. Peroune commended the groups present on their participation acknowledging youth groups from Linden, Berbice, Plaisance and St. Cuthbert’s Mission. She stated that many issues affecting youth including drug and substance abuse, HIV Aids, literacy and ** may be best addressed by the youth themselves and challenged the groups to increase their advocacy and peer education programmes in these areas. Mr. Trevor Ben, Director GuyberNet lead agency for GYSD activities, made a presentation and called on the youths to “nail the lie that there’s nothing constructive youths can do today.” Minister of Culture Youth & Sports, Hon. Gail Teixeira delivered the feature address. She noted the growing movement of volunteers in country and proposed the creation of a volunteer drop in center. 

The Guyana IYV Committee hosted a booth at the exhibition and displayed the IYV web site and IYV Guyana power point presentation. IYV flyers, stickers and ribbons were shared. Among volunteers wearing the IYV ribbon were US Ambassador Mr. Ronald Goddard, British High Commissioner Mr. Edward Glover and Minister of Culture Youth & Sports.

For a complete report on GYSD activities in Guyana please visit our web site www.iyv2001.org.gy

 WHAT’S NEXT?

Street Fair

The National IYV Street Information Fair has had to be postponed due to the prevailing circumstances in country. A new date will be announced shortly.

National & Caribbean Activity and Art competition.

The Guyana Junior Chamber and the Guyana IYV 2001 Committee will launch the National and Caribbean art and community activity competition on May 23, 2001. The Primary School competition requires students to perform a voluntary activity of their choice, and then submit a written report or essay entitled “ What we have done for our Community”.  Participants of the Secondary School competition are required to create a mural or wall hanging depicting their “ Vision of a Better World”. The competitions will be judged at the regional level, National level and at the Caribbean level. Amongst the prizes to be won – a class field trip to the United Nations head Quarters in New York. 

Red Cross Month

May is Red Cross Month and in Guyana the Guyana Red Cross Society has teamed up with the Guyana IYV 2001 Committee to observe their 51st year. The schedule of activities is as follows:

• Tuesday 8 - Red Cross Day with extensive media coverage on the various Red Cross programmes, i.e. meals on wheels, the Children’s Convalescent Home and the First Aid training Programme. 
• Saturday 12 - At the Umana Yana there will be a Thanksgiving Interfaith Service and exhibition
• Friday 25 - Gala dinner “In celebration of Red Cross Month in the International year of Volunteers” 

Scene from Global Youth Service Day Exhibition at the Umana Yana. In picture from left IYV Volunteers Christina Sewnarine, Azimeen Khan, Oliver Wittershagen UNV Programme Officer, Renée Peroune NUNV, IYV Coordinator and visitor to the IYV booth browsing the Guyana IYV web site. 

For the rest of March, the focus is on Gender & Women’s Rights

April

The focus will be on health. We are working on several Medical Outreach programmes in collaboration with Volunteer organization with a focus on health. Media coverage will feature volunteer groups working in the health sector. Aspects of Health care identified to be highlighted so far are rehabilitative health with the Community Based Rehabilitation Programme, Cancer with the Cancer Society and Non Medicine Health care with Bri. Maya Tiwari of Mother Om Mission. 

May

On May 5th 2001, Guyana IYV will launch IYV in Guyana by way of a street fair and exhibition. Volunteer organizations will showcase themselves and the public will have an opportunity to explore volunteer options.