Having captured the title of the fastest growing sport in Guyana , the Guyana Golf Association and Nexgen Golf Academy is working with the Ministry of Education Allied Arts Unit to ensure that the game is accessible to thousands of students nationwide.
This will be made easier since Region Six rose to the challenge thrown down by Region 10’s decision to add all seven secondary schools to the programme, responding with a resounding 28 schools getting involved. As they say at Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) “Together, we can,” only this time, it seems that their motto should be ‘We Did!’
Speaking at the launch of the programme was Mr. Satish Udit, representing the Regional Education District Officer for Region 6.
“When we think of golf, it was never something that I ever thought I would be able to experience, much less provide our children with such a wonderful opportunity, especially when we have to find activities that are COVID-19 compliant,” said Udit.
Ms. Barker-King from Allied Arts said, “The efforts of Mr. Hussain and the GGA will always impact the memories and life of thousands of Berbicians who are finally able to do something they’ve seen on TV without leaving their own country”.
Osafa Dos Santos of BEI, winners of the inaugural inter-school championships held March 5th, spoke about the reaction from his students.
“I have never seen such a response to a new sport programme in my years of teaching and the sheer joy on their faces, along with their dedication to improving made me want to ensure that all students in Region 6 have the chance to experience the game,” he said.
Ms. Lorraine Barker King and Nicholas Fraser were the driving forces behind the implementation of the COVID-19 compliant sport that is on the CXC/CAPE syllabus. Both expressed thanks to Ms. June Ann Gonsalves, Assistant Chief Education Officer, Secondary Schools, for her support and guidance.
Ms. Gonsalves stated, “The discipline and integrity that golf brings to our kids, especially in the schools that normally have no access to such a top sport, gives us great hope for the prospects of developing a strong national team from areas we normally don’t have great opportunities. “
The Guyana Golf Association and Nexgen Golf Academy is headed by Aleem Hussain which has, in less than one year, grown the game in ways that have exceeded expectations of many who have been blown away by the response of Guyanese to the game.
“This was a vision that no one else in Guyana believed in other than some of my staunchest supporters Assuria General Insurance, Copa Airlines, Trophy Stall, Nexgen Global Marketing Group, AR Printery, and Colin Ming locally, with Anwar ‘Buddy’ Shaffie, Imtiaz Hanif, a few other Guyanese overseas golfers and the Shafura Hussain Foundation.
“To think that with the support of just a few persons and companies who believed in a dream that we could achieve such an incredible feat is mind blowing,” said Hussain.
Hussain said he hopes that the responsibility to grow the game will be shared with other agencies and corporate partners who are actively involved with development of sports and other activities focused on women and children.
This now brings the total number of schools participating to 42.
