As the Benschop Foundation continues its effort to reach out to single mothers and children, a team made its way up to Albion, Corentyne in Berbice and distributed a quantity of clothing, foodstuff, books, footwear and stationery.
Head of the foundation, Mark Benschop, accompanied by businessman Peter Ramsaroop, a supporter, made the presentation to a group of mostly single mothers and children at St. Mary’s Anglican Church last Wednesday.
The visit was organized by a member of the church, Romel Ayasammy who remarked that the presentation was “just an example of the bigger things to come in future.”
He hoped that the foundation keeps up the good work it is doing and continues to reach out to communities. The women too expressed gratitude for the gesture and wished the foundation well.
Ramsaroop also made a commitment to start a bank account of $5,000 for every “newborn” in the community through the Benschop Foundation.
He said too that they would continue to deposit money into the account until the child attains the age of 18.
The team also stopped at the Kamal’s Home at Albion and distributed a quantity of stationery to the children and promised to return with more items.
They also stopped at the boxing gym of Howard Eastman and handed over boxing gear and other sports equipment to assist in providing free training for youths in the community.
Meanwhile some of the older women were moved to tears as Benschop relived his experiences of incarceration on a treason charge which he described as “wrong and unjust.”
He recalled suffering painful nights because he could not be a part of the growing up of his two sons. But he told them that the real pain began when his older son, nine-year-old Ranjeev, died in a mysterious fire in Queens, New York.
“…It became irrelevant whether I was in jail or not. Ranjeev’s death gave me the opportunity to be more focused. I would no longer allow myself to be used by any corrupt, immoral, racist or selfish politicians…”
He also told the women that he “made a pledge that my work would be in his [Ranjeev’s] memory. Seeing Ryan and having the opportunity to be with him [after five years] mean the world to me.”
Immediately after relating his story, Benschop ‘cheered’ the women up by serenading them with old Indian songs from the movies “Kabhi Kabhi, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and one from Hum Kissise Kum Nahin.”
He asked persons who wish to contribute to the foundation to “contact us directly at markbenschop@yahoo.com, call our office: 227-8113 or visit us at 77 Robb Street, Georgetown in the Court Yard Mall.”
