Sobhraj Foundation donates 1,000 COVID-19 hampers

One thousand hampers have been donated to several organisations and communities in Guyana by the Jay and Silvia Sobhraj Foundation in an effort to provide relief to persons affected by the coronavirus disease pandemic.

According to a press statement issued by the Foundation on Friday, the organisation tasked itself with embarking on the distribution drive because the pandemic has paused several operations in Guyana, including its free computer courses being offered in Georgetown, Berbice and on the Essequibo Coast.

The statement said the Foundation installed 23 sinks in high-traffic areas on the Essequibo Coast, including four at the Suddie Hospital, during the month of April. However, after seeing the effects of the global pandemic, it decided to also distribute hampers.

Thus far, it said, hampers were distributed to the several organisations, including the Georgetown Public Health Corporation’s COVID-19 Unit, the Guyana Nurses Association, the Guyana Police Force, the Dharm Shala, the ISKCON of Guyana Hare Krishna Study Centre, the Chateau Margot Maha Vishnu Mandir, the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, St Ann’s Orphanage, the Bless the Children Home, the Shaheed Boys Orphanage, and the St John Bosco Boys Orphanage. Donations were also made to communities, which include Lodge, villages on the East Coast of Demerara, the West Bank of Demerara, the West Coast Berbice and on the Essequibo Coast.

Hampers were also distributed to the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs by the Foundation in collaboration with Iwokrama and the Visit Rupununi organisation. Those hampers are for the vulnerable and needy persons in hinterland communities.

The Foundation, formerly known as the Zara Donor Group, was established to provide free, quality education to those most in need. To date, the Foundation has partnered with both government and non-governmental organisations to develop and maintain computer centres, across Guyana. Its last major project, the establishment of the Jay and Sylvia Sobhraj Centre for Behavioural Sciences and Research at the University of Guyana, was completed in 2019.