Food for the Poor Inc. constructed 140 houses in 2016 for less fortunate

Despite the many challenges posed during the year 2016, Food for the Poor (Guyana) Incorporated (FFP) met them with proportionate determination.

This is according to the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO)’s end of year review for 2016.

The report stated that a total of 140 houses were constructed under FFP’s continuing general housing programme during 2016. Forty-three of these homes were built under the New Hope Community Development Project at Onderneeming, West Coast Berbice.

The project, which also saw the construction of a community centre, was a partnership between FFP and the Joseph Roetheli Lil Red Foundation who funded the project.

The report stated that since the FFP commenced its housing programme in 2004, over 3325 housing units have been built.

Education

The report also stated that a wide variety of school furniture was distributed across the country during the year under review.

A combination of chairs, tables, filing cabinets and desks were among the furniture shared to the various schools including Tucville, Comenius, Clonbrook, Parfaite Harmonie and Moblissa Primary Schools; Christ Church and Patentia Secondary; Saint Stanislaus College and North Ruimveldt Multilateral School.

Agriculture

The members of the Now or Never Farmers Group, The Perth (Central Mahaicony) Farmers Agro-Processing Group and the Woodley Park Farmers Group were the recipients of 17 shade houses and a variety of tools and agro-processing equipment during the month of June as part of FFP’s 25th Anniversary Celebrations.

The Perth (Central Mahaicony) Framers Group was also the beneficiary of the upgrading and furnishing of the Farmer’s Agro-Processing Centre.

Agricultural tools were donated to farmers, farmers groups, cooperative societies and farmers associations. The tools donated included water pumps, rain boots, pick axes, forks, shovels, machetes, files and hoes.

The Kirby Community Development Farmers Group, West Bank Berbice, Shieldstown Cattle Farmers Cooperative Society West Coast Berbice and Women for Change were just some of the farmers that benefited from the donation.

Ten families were provided with income-earning opportunities through the Mibicuri Farmers Group Sheep Project, Black Bush Polder in Corentyne. Each family received three ewes while the group acquired three rams for breeding purposes.

Health

The health sector also received large quantities of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, as well as over the counter drugs during 2016.

Examination tables, dental chairs, gloves, pillows, linen, pampers, sleep chairs, cribs, mattresses, liners and laboratory tools among other essentials were distributed to hospitals and health centres countrywide.

FFP’s Wheelchair Programme which was launched in 2015, continued in 2016, when 550 more wheelchairs were distributed to disabled persons across the ten administrative regions of the country, free of cost.

Additionally, four medical outreach programmes were successfully launched and held during the year.