President Dr. Irfaan Ali Saturday re-affirmed his government’s support to local non-profit organisations with a donation of $2.5 million to support the humanitarian programmes of the Rotary Club of Georgetown.
The donation was made during the Club’s World Understanding Dinner held at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown where club members disclosed that as part of the humanitarian work in Guyana, the majority of proceeds go to the Red Cross Society Children’s Convalescent Home.
As such, President Ali said his government encourages foundations like the Rotary Club to partner with the government to provide the much-needed support for vulnerable persons.
“We are ready to partner with you. We are ready to work hand in hand with you in confronting these challenges through the various policies of the government of Guyana we are willing to partner with you , utilising your skills within your organisation to partner with you in supporting your projects financially,” the Head of State said.
The donation of $2.5 million which will go towards the completion of the children’s home.
In March 1977, members of the Rotary Club of Georgetown and the Guyana Red Cross Society met to plan the construction of a new building and almost a year later in February 1978, the club officially launched a fundraising campaign for the project with a target of $25 million.
The home caters to children who are recovering from malnourishment, abuse, neglect and abandonment. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints had contributed $14.1 million.
Altogether, the rotary foundation is seeking to finance the continuation of global humanitarian projects to end polio, promote peace, fight other diseases, provide clean water, support education, save mothers and children, grow the local economy, protect the environment and respond to disasters.
Additionally, the president spoke of the importance of compassion and humility and said many times people do not show compassion. He, nonetheless, praised the organisation for its continued work in showing compassion for the people of the world.
“We have to understand that there are challenges in life, we have to understand that there are difficulties in life, we have to understand that there are storms that will come our way but in understanding that we have to develop the elements that will allow us to overcome these difficulties.
“That is a core part of one Guyana. The elements of understanding are captured in two words- compassion and humility- if we cannot have compassion for each other and if we cannot see each other as equal if we cannot position ourselves in the difficult circumstances of someone else you can never have an understanding of their situation,” President Ali said.
The foundation was formed more than 100 years ago and the foundation has spent more than US$4 billion on life changing sustainable projects worldwide. The aim of the Rotary Foundation is to transform lives around the world and in Guyana.
