Non-profit organization pumping money into education, medical assistance in Guyana

By Natasha Waldron Anthony

Surya Narayan Seva Outreach Sang (SN SOS), a non-profit charitable organization in Jamaica, New York, is providing medical care, social, economic and educational assistance to persons around the world, especially New York, India and Guyana. 

During a recent mission to Guyana, several members and medical doctors, led by Pandit Ram Hardowar, visited a few high schools in West Demerara and Berbice. Hardowar said: “Our mission this year focused mainly on students finishing high schools and moving on to university or higher learning. We have observed that a significant percentage of students who successfully complete high school are not continuing on to college and other schools of higher learning”. 

He said that while several factors may contribute to this high dropout rate, SN SOS feels social and economic challenges are the two important ones, and this has prompted the group to provide counselling and financial aid to graduating high school students to enable them to move on to college. 

The Pandit Ram and Radha Hardowar Sanskriti Award SN SOS has initiated the GY$150,000 ‘Pt Ram & Radha Hardowar Sanskriti’ award, which will be offered to the best graduating Hindu student who wants to achieve more academically following high school. The schools that will benefit from this scholarship fund annually, starting from the 2010/2011 school year, are Zeeburg Secondary and Saraswatie Vidya Niketan Schools on the West Coast of Demerara; Valmiki Vidyalaya High School in Georgetown, and Linepath Secondary School in Skeldon, Berbice. 

SN SOS also paid the annual tuition fees for two students of the Saraswatie Vidya Niketan School amounting to GY$100,000, since those students come from economically challenged families. Additionally, a donation of GY$140,000 was made to Valmiki Vidyalaya High School to offset the high operating and maintenance cost per student, as the school has just started. Pandit Hardowar singled out Swami Aksharananda Ji and Bhai Roop Persaud for their dedication to the educational and cultural upbringing of students as he congratulated the management of both Hindu schools. 

And the group, during its meeting with members of the Hindu club at Tagore Memorial Secondary School, gave GY$100,000 for the purchase of identification badges for club members and a dholak drum set, as the club was recently crowned champions in the rangoli competition. 

Another area of focus for SN SOS is medical assistance in those areas where it is lacking. Crabwood Creek, Berbice residents were treated for various illnesses and received pressure testing kits, glaucometers (sugar testing) and multi vitamins at the CWC Shiva Mandir. Two doctors, Parmeshwar Mahabir and Anand Ramnarine, teamed up with the group to offer assistance to the community. 

SN SOS member Radha Hardowar also held a Yoga workshop, which was embraced by participants who reportedly expressed the desire for more of this ancient science. Radha Ji promised to organize similar workshops in CWC and other areas. 

The organization which was founded based on the four essential teachings of Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism), Sauchyam, Daya and Daanam, is primarily funded by its members and the devotees of the Shri Surya Narayan Mandir. 

Pandit Hardowar said, “From time to time, we also receive donations from like-minded individuals in the community. No one in the sang is paid a salary, it is all voluntary service. All airfare costs to and from Guyana are paid directly by the Doctors and other volunteers utilizing their own funds. Therefore, 100% of all donations made to SN SOS go directly to recipients to improve themselves educationally through scholarships, and physically, through our medical outreach programs”.  

SN SOS humanitarian seeks to extend the boundaries of the mandir, and, through love and compassion, meet those who have needs or are underserved.