New Jersey continues humanitarian journey

Wednesday July 17, 2008

THE New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir, Inc - Guyana Central Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission continues to live up to its motto of ‘service to humanity’ by touching the lives of the less fortunate individuals and making a difference.

The organisation recently held a show ‘Laff Til Yuh Belly Bust’, an evening of laughter and entertainment including music and dances, which saw Berbice coming out in the thousands at the Albion Sports Complex, Corentyne.

A section of the crowd at the ‘Laff Til Yuh Belly Bust’ show last Monday at the Albion Sports Complex, Berbice.

Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle, President of the New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir Inc, Humanitarian Mission, Pandit Suresh Sugrim said that this was the first event held in Guyana by the organisation and the funds from the venture will go towards helping the Berbice community. “People really came out and supported us making a difference and the show’s success would not have been possible withou t them and our sponsors,” he attested. The New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir, Inc. Humanitarian Mission was established in 1987 as a benevolent non-profit, charitable, cultural, and social organisation established in New Jersey, United States and its Humanitarian Mission in Guyana was established in 2005 to provide charitable services to the very needy and less-fortunate children and elderly persons across the country. The organisation’s vision is to create possibilities and to improve the lives of the less-fortunate and under privileged children by empowering them through the power of education in poor communities and to build stronger children by empowering and encouraging them to improve their lives.

The cast of ‘Laff Til Yuh Belly Bust’ performing. The body is dedicated to helping children, senior citizens and other individuals who are in dire poverty. “This possibility is accomplished through the generosity of their contributors, sponsors and caregivers by providing children with programmes benefits and service that meet the basic everyday needs in order to enhance their human dignity and to raise their physical and educational levels in a meaningful and lasting way,” Pandit Sugrim explained. “Our vision is that each person wi ll grow into a healthy, educated and self-reliant individual,” he reiterated.

Pandit Sugrim also pointed out that the organisation works with many different Hindu, Muslim and Christian and non-governmental organisations in Guyana and does not discriminate against anyone based on their race, religion, beliefs or practices, serving people of all faith.

He said the organisation have been doing projects each year since 2005 to help the Guyanese community.
Some of the activities the mission has been involved in include providing food vouchers for the disabled children and adults, school supplies for the less fortunate children, refurbishing senior homes and children orphanages.

Funding for the mission is primarily generated from private donations, corporate donations and monies generated through various events such as ‘Arya Swaranjali’.

The Humanitarian Mission’s first project in Guyana for this year was the construction of a home for a less-fortunate family whose home was destroyed by heavy winds in March this year.

The home was handed over to Iris Latchman, of Rose Hall Town on the Corentyne, last June 29.

Latchman is the mother of three children who are all mentally challenged.

The organisation also recently donated three sewing machines to single parents in Berbice to help enhance their skills and on July 13 will commence an ‘enhancement programme’ where single parents in Canje area will be given the opportunity to learn sewing equipping them with a skill.

Pandit Sugrim said the long term plan is to build a centre for young people and others to learn various skills or trade.

He said the mission also plans to establish ‘food kitchens’ around the country where the less fortunate can visit and enjoy a decent meal.

Additionally, the Humanitarian Mission will be also be hosting a ‘blood drive’ in Berbice on July 19, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Guyana National Blood Transfusion Centre.
“Giving blood is giving life and we do have a burning desire to help people,” he emphasised.

“We have been coming back to Guyana over the past five years because we believe that charity begins at home and this is our home,” he posited.

The organisation believes that social and charitable works are the basic hallmarks of Hinduism and the Arya Samaj movement and the teachings of Hinduism are based on the principle of sewa or service to humanity.

Over the years, the humanitarian organisation has been lauded for assisting hundreds of children and less fortunate through its charitable work and much needed donations to several organisations across Guyana.