Guyanese from the Diaspora, in collaboration with the GAIL Foundation on Friday last donated playground equipment to the Children of Promise Eden Orphanage at Smythfield, New Amsterdam.
The venture is the result of several Guyanese-Americans, along with locals using their monetary resources and skills to complete a small project that will give children at the orphanage somewhere to laugh, smile and more importantly, play.
Immigration Attorney, Gail Seeram, her father & KN columnist, Ralph along with Caretaker of the Orphanage, Ms Pansy Howell with the playground; Inset: BVA President, Gregory Rambarran receives a flip- scoreboard from Mr Seeram
The donations totaled $500,000 and were contributed by Immigration Attorney, Gail Seeram, Creig G. Camacho, Vejay Bhoopsingh, Paul Ramsaywak, the Swammy family, the Moonasar Family, Mrs. Bibi Seeram, Zorida Pritipaul- Manoo, Neil Singh, George Lyken, Timehri Restaurant of Florida, Joan Sears and Mrs Desiree Bhoopsingh.
At the simple ribbon-cutting ceremony at the orphanage, Kaieteur News Sunday columnist, Ralph Seeram and his daughter Gail thanked the mentioned persons and also Gregory Rambarran of DTV-8 in Berbice as well as Surendra Rookman, who gave their time and skills towards the construction and installation of the playground equipment.
Rev Paul Moonoo of the Lutheran Church blessed the playground.
Gail Seeram in a brief address mentioned that Guyanese living overseas do care what happens in their homeland and would always assist in any project once the Guyanese here are willing to first help themselves.
She stated that the success of the small project is a reminder that collectively, Guyanese can come together and achieve good for humanity.
The common goal, she said, was to provide playground equipment to an orphanage that had no outdoor play area for the children.
She had identified the need for a playground during her visit to Guyana last year. It started out as a trip to see where her navel string was buried, but quickly turned into a vision and passion for helping children’s organizations in Guyana with limited resources. Seeram and her newly formed foundation, G.A.I.L. Foundation Inc. (Giving Abundantly In Life) strives to reach out to the Guyanese Diaspora and provide opportunities for them to invest in the lives of children in Guyana. Mrs Pansy Howell, caretaker of the orphanage, expressed thanks for the kind gesture.
A flip-scoreboard was also presented at the same time by the Seerams to President of the Berbice Volleyball Association, Gregory Rambarran to be used during matches in Berbice.