By Ashraf Dabie
Focused on creating opportunities for persons with disabilities, the U.S. Embassy Georgetown, through its Youth Action Network (YAN), turned its attention to Berbice with a mission of empowering youth leaders within the county to better serve the disability community.
This initiative took the form of a two-day Conference and Service Day Project, which was hosted last weekend and made possible by a collaborative effort between YAN and the St. Francis Community Developers in Port Mourant, Corentyne.
A group of over 20 volunteers attached to YAN, the official youth arm of the U.S. Embassy Georgetown, journeyed to Berbice where approximately 30 youth leaders from various communities and organisations across the county were anxiously waiting to share their knowledge and leave a lasting impact.
The weekend kicked off with a conference which provided a platform for discussions on the rights of persons with disabilities and more so highlighted the responsibilities of citizens in serving the disability community.
Disability rights’ activist, Ganesh Singh, outlined the provisions laid out in the Disability Act of 2010, which speaks to the fundamental rights that should be afforded to each individual living with disabilities in Guyana.
In his presentation, Singh, who is also the Public Relations Officer for the Guyana Council of Organizations for Persons with Disabilities, underscored that individuals within this community are not exactly ‘disabled’, but are severely restricted by the lack of necessary facilities which significantly limit their abilities. As such, he noted that each community holds a massive responsibility in catering for persons with disabilities.
Echoing similar sentiments was Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Embassy, Amanda Claudwell, while relaying the basis of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.
It was underlined that the ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability and offers protection against injustices, similar to those brought on by race, religion and sexuality.
Moreover, this Act particularly zooms in on the imposition of mandatory accessibility requirements for public conveniences and even seeks to address reasonable accommodations which must be put in place to cater for employees with disabilities within each working environment.
These provisions being established pave the way for Guyana to follow suit in creating specific accessibilities to allow for persons with disabilities to be well integrated into community life.
The conference culminated on a high note with the participants taking a stance by offering solutions for difficulties faced by the disability community throughout the country. Six groups presented on ways in which youths and non-governmental organisations can tackle the concerns affecting those with disabilities, focusing primarily on the lacked of access to education, information, and employment opportunities as well as accessing conveniences, sports and recreational facilities along with preventing and protecting against stigma.
Effecting positive change and fostering inclusivity for persons belonging to the disability community, the young enthusiasts, comprising of both the Georgetown and Berbice delegations, assembled at the Community Rehabilitation Centre in Corentyne as they took on the Service Day Project.
At the rehabilitation centre, the only one of its kind in Berbice, the group ventured into four undertakings: the construction of a concrete walkway to allow for easy access to the institution; installation of electric upgrades; beautification of the compound; and the building of recreational facilities while creating a child-friendly space.
After taking on these initiatives, the team managed to transform what was evidently a deteriorating facility into a welcoming environment, conducive for the rehabilitation of persons, primarily children living with disabilities. Without doubt, the upgrading of the Corentyne Centre was the ideal way to conclude the two-day experience, setting the pace for the participating youth leaders to embark on similar endeavours within their respective communities in Berbice.
Since its establishment in July 2013, the Youth Action Network continues to stage their signature Conference and Service Day Project annually. Just last year, YAN hosted a trafficking in persons’ public awareness forum in Georgetown as a part of its initiative.
However, this year marked the second time the Youth Action Network turned its attention to Berbice, with the first being in 2015, when the Conference was aimed at building the capacity of youth to take on leadership roles within their communities.
It is the hope of the U.S. Embassy and its youth arm that the seeds planted during this two-day experience will have lasting impact, so much so that the county will see specific measures being enacted to adequately cater for the disability community.
