The Central Islamic Organisa-tion of Guyana (CIOG) has announced plans to expand its Orphan and Vulnerable Children Programme, saying it wishes to include children irrespective of religion.
“We are currently working on expanding this programme,” the CIOG said in a release. “We invite all organizations with an interest in children to contact us and make this programme a success.”
Last Saturday, the CIOG hosted a fun day
for about 350 children on the lawns of the Muslim Youth Organisation grounds on Woolford Avenue. CIOG collaborated with the Zakaat House of Kuwait to the host the fun day for the children, who benefit from the programme.
The children were drawn from East and West Berbice, East Coast and East Bank Demerara, Georgetown, Essequibo Islands and the Essequibo Coast, CIOG said.
Bursary awards were presented to 16 children who completed their Secondary School Entrance Examination and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Exa-mination. The release added that the programme “is very excited about the CXC results of these children and looks forward to play a more active role in the lives of these children.” According to the release, the CSEC students are gainfully employed at government agencies, the private sector or pursuing studies at the University of Guyana.
On a monthly basis, over $900,000 is distributed to these orphans and vulnerable children who attend the four schools operated by the CIOG. With scholarship programmes financed by the Zakaat House, local and overseas sponsors, children attend the school free of charge and are provided with vitamins, clothing, and shoes, and back-to-school packages among other things.
The Zakaat House is a Kuwait based organisation which sponsors 76 orphans, the release stated. The other sponsorship comes from Guyana, the West Indies the USA, Canada and the United Kingdom. CIOG established the orphans programme in 1993 and the programme has grown “rapidly” over the past 17 years, providing children with financial, educational, medical and social assistance.
