Guyana Premier is a young company, but one that is surely making its mark in communities. Led by its mission to empower youths and communities, Guyana Premier believes that “the key to true empowerment is through self-elevation and making the most of one’s education at a tender age is essential to this since good buildings are built on strong foundations”.
That belief is what the energetic team at Guyana Premier lives by and is what motivates them to want to give back to society.
In July 2017, the marketing brand held its annual ‘Back to School Drive’, providing supplies to 250 underprivileged children living in rural Guyana. Later in October 2017, it was Guyana Premier who claimed the runner up position in The ScotiaBank Vision Achiever Live Business Pitch Competition.
In December 2017, Guyana Premier reached out once more in keeping with their promise to empower youths and enhance education by hosting their first annual ‘Medical/Dental Outreach and Christmas Cheer’. On December 16, 2017 the team of young entrepreneurs and volunteers journeyed to East Berbice to bring much-needed medical and dental care to the children in specific areas. Also in keeping with the Christmas season, the children present were treated to a ‘Christmas Cheer’, which involved a packed programme with food and gifts.
The team took to Belvedere Primary School where 70 children were identified as coming from particularly disadvantaged homes in the community and invited to be a part of the day’s activities. Their families were also allowed to join as a few activities planned were family oriented.
A team of three doctors were present and were able to talk to the children and their parents, after which they were provided with essential medical and dental supplies. In addition to this, the mothers who were present were given the opportunity to learn more about the various forms of cancer and the importance of early screening thanks to the presence of Bibi Sheonarine and the Sar&B Foundation. Free pap smears were also provided to those who were willing to be screened for cervical cancer.
What’s better than learning about your health and how to take care of yourself? Having a little fun while doing it of course, which was exactly what the children were treated to. As soon as they had finished with the doctors, all of the children came together for an afternoon of cheer and merry making.
Snacks were aplenty and it was evident from the glee in the children’s faces that they were truly grateful. After lunch, there was a brief talent show, and gifts were finally distributed to all of the children present. There was not a sad face in the room that afternoon.
When asked what prompted him and his team to want to give back, chief operations officer of Guyana Premier, Dave Lalltoo said, “It was a promise that we just had to keep and we couldn’t be more pleased.”
The team, consisting of Guyana Premier’s Marketing Executive, Omesh Balmacoon, its Events Coordinator, Yohlanda Kerr and its volunteers, Oslene Bailey, Dr. Joshua Ramah, Dr. Sara Scott, Dr. Afua Alder were all joy on the day as well as they interacted with the parents and children.
The team also expressed much gratitude from a number of businesses without whose support none of the activities would have been possible. These included: ScotiaBank Guyana, Java Coffee Bar, Branderz Guyana, Shermol Cleaner Services, Hallmark Guyana, C&L Construction Company, The Outdoor Store and Pet Shop, New GPC, Vish Pharmacy and Bibi’s Halal Corner and the Guyana Medical Relief.
In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Dave mentioned that for 2018, Guyana Premier will be targeting 1,000 underprivileged children for its ‘Annual Back to School Drive’, which also entails a ‘summer’ workshop for 250 children. The main aim is to enhance art and craft, while at the same time empowering children to be creative.
“Also another big thing is Guyana Premier will be partnering with Sar & B Nonprofit Foundation and Gicing Hope Foundation to do fundraisers in order to offer free pap smear and cancer screening to Guyanese especially in disadvantaged communities. This will be done continuously,” Dave noted.
For more information, visit Guyana Premier on Facebook. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)
