The Grant-a-Dream group. From left to right front row, Dominique Dias and Chelsea Fung; second row, Alana and Briony Tiwari; third row, Carl Shivraj, Ryan Kirton and Jamaal Douglas
Young people today are becoming more conscious of the struggles of others, and are being motivated to make a change. For the youths of the Grant- a-Dream group, making a change in the lives of the less fortunate is what they aim for.
Chairperson of the group, Dominique Dias, daughter of Denise Dias, the activist for road safety since the death of her daughter Alicea, and founder of the Alicea Foundation and Women in Black organisation, told Guyana Times Sunday Magazine that she became more aware of the poverty in Guyana during her humanitarian work with the Habitat for Humanity.
Last year, she was in a phase of finding herself, and so she researched a number of volunteer programmes and decided to be a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. She travelled to countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and China. At the tender age of 20, she went on her adventure and was determined to work in whatever conditions that came her way. One may think that, growing up with certain luxuries, she would have given up, but Dominique worked in rain and scorching sun, and never let up on her work.
When she returned to Guyana, she approached several of her friends with the ‘Grant-a-Dream’ proposal and they readily hopped on board. The group comprises six other members, who are Chelsea Fung – secretary; Alana and Briony Tiwarie, Jamaal Douglas and Ryan Kirton, all directors, and Carl Shivraj, treasurer.
The young and vibrant group is committed to doing whatever it takes to improve the quality of life for individuals, especially children, families and communities, by eliminating barriers to opportunities and helping people in need for the sake of alleviating poverty.
In order to achieve this, they are in the process of holding various events to donate money to various institutions.
On August 20 at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) they hope to create a world of fairytale.
“Children will enter a storybook where they can meet not only the Mad Hatter and friends, but also have the feeling of being part of the story. Their imaginations will run wild, bringing their dreams to life. Walking through the tunnels of GCC, the children will feel as though they are in their very own land, and feel transformed into young princes and princesses with spectacular props and set pieces. Before their eyes, a story will be told from a wide range of whimsical games and enchanted activities to choose from,” Dominique stated.
When the group asked some teenagers who are less fortunate and cannot afford certain amenities of life what they always wanted to do, they said being able to just hang out with their friends at a club just as any other teenager would do. As such, the group hopes to grant this dream and introduce a section for a club-like feel incorporating the DJ wearing a Mad Hatter outfit at the event at GCC. There will be a bouncy castle, a caterpillar tunnel, a merry-go-round, a huge slide, a trampoline, and other attractions. There will be the Mad Hatter for the children to interact with and take pictures, and there will be several templates of character cut-outs where they can put their faces for funny and cute snapshots.
In addition, large ‘Queen of Hearts’ cards will be lined up around the field along with gargantuan fairytale characters.
The adults will be able to have their fun as well, with the “Adults’ Enchanted Forest” at the event.
They will be able to return to that whimsical world they encountered as children.
As a non-profit organisation, Dominique noted, Grant-a-Dream exists to benefit the citizens of Guyana. “The event relies on the support of the public to achieve this goal, where children’s literature can come to life and kids can be kids. Grant a dream with us for the sake of letting the children at the Paediatric Ward have a happily ever after experience, as the money made from the event will be donated to them.” Dominique stated that her experience abroad will forever be etched in her soul. “Poverty is hunger to me. Seeing this hunger, for life, it changes your perception and makes you look at the world from their point of view. My volunteer experience clutched on to my very core, and I couldn’t get it loose; and exactly as my experience changed me, I want it to change others, too. Helen Keller said, “Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness.
“It’s not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” Grant-a-Dream is my ‘worthy purpose’ along with the other members,” she explained.
Being a very young group, conceptualised this year, plans are still being glued together for projects and avenues in providing for those stricken with poverty in Guyana. The group’s entire membership, despite having other responsibilities, is determined to make a change and grant dreams one at a time. (Taken from Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)
