The New Jersey Arya Samaj under Pandit Suresh Sugrim initiated a “Humanitarian Mission” about three years ago in Babu John, Port Mourant. As the then Director of the University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC), it was my pleasure to facilitate in every way possible. The various Toronto Chapters of the Arya Samaj also came on board.
The result of this collaboration is the realisation of a dream. From what I have seen of the building at Babu John, it is nothing short of impressive. What does this “Humanitarian Mission” intend to do? Several Pandits and members of the Arya Samaj explained in detail to me from the beginning.
The complex at Babu John is meant to house a skills/training centre (sewing, information technology, basic mechanics, etc) for youths, especially but not exclusively.
It is also meant to be a refuge for victims of domestic violence as well as for pregnant teenagers who have been set adrift. The building will also have a counselling centre for victims of all sorts.
Very importantly, it will also serve as an educational resource centre, open to the general public.
This is the kind of noble thing that we should all recognise. It is all done from North America, including the raising of funds. A great deal of time and energy is spent by groups of individuals, all of it on a voluntary basis.
The New Jersey and Toronto Chapters of the Arya Samaj held a meeting in Toronto this week. Some 20 people attended, all Guyanese of different genders and ages. I was invited by Pandit Sugrim and gladly attended.
It was refreshing to me that vile things were thrown away: there was no stink of racism, no narrowness of regionalism, no stench of gender bias, no religious latrine bigotry.
And there was no mention of petty party politics, that venomous thing that continues to poison Guyana. Instead, there was much concern about the state of the young in Guyana and what can and must be done to help.
The entire meeting was centred on ways to create a more skilled and civil Guyanese society. The professionalism of those in attendance set an example, and the behaviour of all was consistently pleasant and civil without being stuffy. There was clean laughter. Not one voice was raised in anger or self-righteousness. I made bold to speak about things that may be useful to this mission.
First, we need to involve the Guyana Police Force by training recruits from the Felix Austin Police College, as well as active ranks in relevant disciplines. UGBC did this for years, but that has been thrown away now.
Second, there must be a concerted effort to reach out to all of Guyana (that sentiment was expressed by others several times), but especially to the Forgotten Region, as they now know themselves to be –Region 5.
Third, the Mission can involve in informal ways students who are reading for degrees in Social Work. We know that volunteerism is still almost a foreign thing in Guyana. This needs to be strengthened and encouraged in real ways.
One of the other impressive things at this meeting that seemed more like a gathering of friends was the honest recognition that Guyana has become a begging bowl (or barrel) society. One of the Pandits actually quoted Confucius’s famous, “Do not give them fish; teach them how to fish”. The underlying idea of the mission is to enable and educate!
Educate and enable every single willing member of Guyanese society, even if the Mission is located in Berbice.
This is a grand vision as much as it is a noble one. It will not be easy, of course, since red tape strangles many good initiatives. But one must admire the spirit and the work done thus far. Guyana is not known to honour good work in official ways. Quite to the contrary. official Guyana seems dedicated to rewarding the sub-mediocre.
It would be such a wonderful thing should Ministries hop on board. All too often, it is people who wish to serve who approach the Ministries begging for a chance to make a difference. People like me would be pleasantly surprised if the relevant Government Ministries make an overture to organisations such as the Arya Samaj in a “helping to help” way.
Of course, this takes humility, which is itself in short supply.