Another 11 homes for children have been ‘adopted’ in phase four of First Lady Arya Ali’s ‘adopt-an-orphanage’ initiative. Over the next 12 months, these homes will receive sponsorship from private companies to primarily cover their utilities and other monthly expenses.
This was announced by the First Lady at the launch of phase four on Friday at State House in Georgetown, where representatives of the homes and their sponsors signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to initiate the new phase.
The 11 orphanages to receive support during this period are: A Sanctuary Children’s Home, Bless the Children Home, Hauraruni Girls’ Home, Hope Children’s Home, Joshua House Children Centre, Prabhu Sharan Orphanage, Red Cross Children’s Convalescent Home, Ruimveldt Children’s Home and Care Center, Shaheed’s Boys’ Orphanage, Shaheed’s Girls’ Orphanage, and St. John’s Bosco Orphanage.
Delivering the featured remarks, Mrs. Ali shared, “Today, we’re here to launch the fourth phase of this programme which we will run for another year. So, over the next twelve months, eleven orphanages will be sponsored by private companies represented here today. This sponsorship will primarily cover their utilities and some other monthly expenses.”
Arya Ali, First Lady of Guyana (Photo: News Room)
Some of the sponsors making this new phase a possibility are: Amara Hope Foundation, IB Construction, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Guyana, Guyana Shore Base Inc., Premier Construction, Comfort Sleep Guyana, and J’s Supermarket.
The First Lady also mentioned that since its inception in 2021, the initiative has seen almost G$100 million invested in the development of these and other homes, and the children that live in them.
“Yesterday, while finalising preparations for today’s launch, I decided to crunch some numbers just to get an idea of the level of investment we’ve made since 2021.
“I’m proud to share with you today that from 2021, when this programme was launched, to its fourth instalment, with the support of the private sector, we have invested close to G$100 million in these homes. That is an average of G$25 million a year being invested in the lives of our children who live in these homes.”
She further expounded on how the investments were translated into ways that benefit the homes and children.
“Apart from the monthly sponsorship of utilities and recurrent expenses, we’ve had contractors do repairs and maintenance at many of these homes. We’ve sponsored health services for children, including eye tests and the provision of free spectacles. We’ve provided school supplies, we’ve hosted a number of recreational activities, including toy drives, movie nights, and picnics, and let’s not forget dental care.”
Mrs. Ali explained that these investments are not just to improve the physical buildings and offer financial support, but to create homes and inspire dreams.
She also said that the Government will continue to invest and provide support to the homes, and has already discussed plans to extend additional support through the annual subvention, and other supporting facilities.
“This additional support will no doubt enhance these care facilities and provide an even more enabling environment for the care and upbringing they need.”
Providing a testimony to the programme was the Administrator of Shaheed’s Boys’ and Girls’ Orphanages, Melissa Permaul.
“We have been blessed to experience the benefits of this initiative first-hand through the First Lady’s intervention and the generosity of our sponsors who answered the call. We have been able to meet critical needs in a timely manner.
Melissa Permaul, Administrator of Shaheed’s Boys’ and Girls’ Orphanages (Photo: News Room)
“Basic necessities that are often taken for granted: electricity, water, proper sanitisation, have been consistently available at our homes. Utilities, once a source of constant worry, are now reliably covered.
“Beyond the material support, the initiative has also brought something equally important: dignity and hope. The boys and girls now understand that they are heard, seen, valued, and supported by people who care about their future.”
Also speaking at the launch was Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, who lauded the programme.
“These are the kinds of initiatives that we want to see amplify, accelerate in terms of its impact, and the kind of initiatives that will take root in every region of our country.”
Dr. Vindhya Persaud, Minister of Human Services and Social Security (Photo: News Room)
Dr. Persaud spoke of the importance of having trained individuals in each home to provide care for the children. She encouraged those with homes, orphanages, and shelters to ensure every person they employ receives training since the Ministry is providing it at no cost.
“This is to make sure that they can (treat children), even children with disabilities, in the same way as they treat any child of their own in their family.”
Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Guyana, Yang Yang, said the programme speaks to the endurance and strength of the China-Guyana friendship, which she called a partnership grounded not only in economic ties, but in human connection and the belief in children’s futures.
Yang Yang, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Guyana (Photo: News Room)
“Today’s donation is more than a gesture of charity. It is an investment in dignity, an investment in stability, and an investment in the very future of Guyana.”
The Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency within the Human Services Ministry, Levine Gouveia, described the initiative as “not just symbolic” but “transformative,” and commended First Lady Ali.
Levine Gouveia, Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency (Photo: News Room)
“By adopting an orphanage, the First Lady is doing what the law can’t do on its own.
“Her involvement in uplifting standards attract resources and show leaders, public and private, what real accountability and compassion looks like.”
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