Youth group in Independence display at 1763 monument
The Caribbean Royal Shining Star Youth and Humanitarian Organization on Wednesday treated the public to a short dance display at the 1763 Monument in commemoration of Guyana’s 55th Independence anniversary.
The group was founded on the 11th of June 1983 at the Smith’s Memorial Congregational Church on Brickdam, Georgetown. Then they were called ‘The Shining Star Youth Club’ and at the time it was founded, there were 13 boys who were members of the group.
They are an offshoot of the boy scouts. Founder of the organisation, Edward Singh, noted that there are fifty-six members in total from age seven up. However, in keeping with the COVID-19 protocols as well as due to Wednesday’s heavy showers, only a small group of about ten persons showed up for the display.
A handful of dancers performed a dance to the popular Master KG “Jerusalema” song, which they themselves choreographed. Following the dance, the teens also wished passersby a Happy Independence Day and reminded them to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols. They also use the opportunity to encourage persons to get vaccinated.
Singh and other members from the organisation in the earlier years travelled abroad, where they started 43 branches in eleven Caribbean countries.
The organisation, Singh noted, used to be more vibrant in its previous years. According to the founder, plans were put in place last year to have a revival of the group here as well as those in the Caribbean, but as a result of the pandemic, those plans have been put on hold. The members of the group have, over the years, been taught skills in cycling, cooking and other outdoor activities, which they earned awards for. However, despite the pandemic, the group has still remained dedicated to some of their humanitarian outreaches, such as feeding the homeless, which they do on a weekly basis around Georgetown.
“We believe this group can be one of the frontline groups in Guyana. If you notice Guyana is moving forward. I remember when we were travelling through the Caribbean, the Caribbean people would treat us so badly and put us back on the plane and send us back to Guyana. Look at us today, as you go around in the streets, you’ll see how many foreigners are here and I would not be annoyed because they are hustling to make a dollar to send back home because back in the 70’s and 80’s we too used to be doing that”, Singh said.
He asserted his belief in the youths and how much of an integral role they have to play in society while urging the government to put more emphasis into the funding of such organisations. As it relates to funding, some of the past group members who are now living abroad make donations from time to time. Additionally, members here would make craft items, which they sell and have some of the proceeds go towards their charitable ventures.
“I’m looking forward to one of these days where they will have a Georgetown Leaders Council. They had this council in the earlier days where all the heads of the different youth groups and youth organisations would meet in the Department of Youth and Sports. The leader would sit and listen to all the different programs planned as well as the assistance we need. This wasn’t started by the government, it was neutral body. This way we would know who had programs when and would be there to support each other…,” said Singh.
Singh, who had his first dose of the COVID vaccine, is looking forward to receiving his second dose and encourages others to do the same so that herd immunity can be achieved and everyone can return to living a normal life.