Habitat, U.S. volunteers building community centre for Festival City

Forty United States volunteers of Builders Beyond Borders (B3) are currently in Guyana collaborating with Habitat for Humanity and the Festival City Youth and Parent Organisation for the construction of a resource centre to the tune of approximately Gy$10 million.

The Festival City Habitat Resource Centre Project was officially launched last Saturday night at Lion’s Den, South Ruimveldt in the presence of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Joseph Harmon, Habitat for Humanity National Director Rawle Small, Guyana Entrepreneurial Youth Movement Incorporated Executive Director Daren Torrington, the U.S. volunteers, and residents of Festival City, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.
The initiative came about following a discussion between the Entrepreneurial Youth Movement and Habitat for Humanity in September 2012, and later saw B3 buying into the initiative.
In January, Habitat for Humanity hired a contractor to lay the foundation of the research centre which sits in the heart of Festival City. The contractor at the time received overwhelming support in the form of volunteer labour from the community.  Now it is expected that the B3 members will work on the ground floor in this coming week before returning home. In March, another batch is slated to arrive in Guyana with the aim of completing the project by May-June.

Torrington, who chaired the programme at the launch, posited that young people are faced with countless challenges due to globalisation; hence, it is of great importance for countries to collaborate with the aim of achieving mutual benefits.
Meanwhile, Rawle Small challenged members of the Festival City Youth and Parents Organisation to work earnestly to guarantee the completion of the project. He further admonished them to utilise the building to its full capacity when it is completed; noting that years down the line, persons across Guyana must always utter good remarks about the significant role the centre has played in the development of Festival City and its residents.
Festival City, famous for self-help and cooperation, was established in 1972 by then Guyanese Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, who at the time had supported the idea of a new Caribbean Arts Festival, and offered to host the event in Guyana. The community was designed to provide infrastructure and accommodation for visiting guests and artists during the festival.