Let me first preface this post by saying
that we are so grateful for all the support we have received from our family
and friends and all the work we do in our community is really thanks to you.
Now, less than 10 months before we close our service, we have identified what
we feel is a very important project: the renovation of the Mabaruma Regional
Conference Centre (or MRCC). The purpose of this renovation is to create a
suitable venue for community activities. In development work, capacity building
is the keystone to helping a community and this building would be a big step in
that direction.
Mabaruma is a small hinterland community
in the northwest part of Guyana. It is
not accessible by land from the capital city of Georgetown, instead it is only
accessible by air, which is very expensive or by water which is very dangerous
and time consuming. Despite the challenges, many aid organizations are present
in this region and do their best to supply the area with resources. Unfortunately
because of lack of training, many of these valuable resources go unused, programs
stagnate, and needy people are left without help. The most common reason that
trainings do not occur is because there is not a suitable meeting space. "We", Nate and I, believe that a
"meeting of the minds" is an important function of any organization
that's interested in finding consensus and making decisions for the future. That's
why we feel the renovation of the MRCC is really needed for the development of
our community.
Presently the MRCC is in a state of
disrepair in that it lacks shelter from the elements, electric current,
adequate furniture, adequate ventilation, adequate sanitary facilities, and
secure storage facilities.
By helping us reach our goal of
$9,582.20 you are directly helping the capacity building endeavors of the
education and health departments, regional administration, religious
organizations, as well as other public service organizations that require
meeting space to conduct the advancement of their programs.
We thank you for your support and hope
that you will pass on the message to your friends and family.
Thank you,
Nate & Ilana
Often in Peace Corps, or any development work
really, you plant a seed that’s shade you will never rest under. In other words
you put your blood, sweat and tears in projects that you don’t know what the
outcome or effect will be. But every once in a while you do a small tangible
project that seems silly at first and becomes more rewarding than expected.
About two weeks ago two of our PCV friends Emily Bergling and Carissa Cartas
came to help Nate and I liven up our Maternal and Child Health unit by adding
some Sesame Street characters with health promotion slogans on the walls. It
was a full weekend activity that was successful in adding four murals to
the once blank walls. The process was pretty simple of projecting the pictures
onto the walls with a projector and then painting them in. Carissa, a pretty
awesome volunteer, has been travelling all over Guyana and helping other PCVs
add art to schools, health center’s, youth friendly spaces (like a YMCA) and
even libraries. She spent a whole week guiding and helping us through the process.
Just a little bit of art goes a long way.
