GUYDA honours new law graduate
From 7A
Look at the members here. You are encircled with love this evening. From the bottom of our hearts, we are here to celebrate you for all that you have accomplished and see this journey as a never-ending ladder that you must climb. Once you reach the next point of graduating … the key is networking ... and collaborating with people that’s going to take you to the higher steps … and as you keep climbing put God first; pray about everything that you want to achieve – and you will achieve it.
Dr Gordon Howell stated that the occasion celebrated three things: “Nikita, Pierre, and GUYDA … everything you see happening this evening could not have happened (as) I always say (without) three variables that are responsible for people achieving greatness – nature, nurture, and divine intervention.”
GUYDA was established in May 2005 primarily to promote social and educational opportunities and training for youth in Guyana and the United States, so that they can become productive citizens.
Stewart, in highlighting the core values of the organization, stressed that young people, teamwork, collaboration, transparency, and accountability to stakeholders are important in the development of Guyana. He advised his colleagues that in awarding scholarships, “it is not only for the downtrodden but the downtrodden, who want to be better than what they are. So, we should give scholarships to budding attorneys, carpenters [and] teachers across the board so that we can cultivate a better group of people.” He advised Squires that in his life’s journey and in his career, “there are people, who will never understand or associate with what you’re doing but once you are honest and fearless you will always prevail”.
Squires, a former St. Stanislaus College student, obtained an Associate Degree in Humanities/Law, while in sixth form before attending the University of Guyana and subsequently the Hugh Wooding Law School. He thanked the GUYDA members for their support. He like his predecessor, Edwards, has joined the organization and is based in Guyana. They were in the GUYDA team that met with stakeholders in Charity, Essequibo Coast, on Friday, 12 August, to discuss the implementation of the Charity After-School Literacy Project, which is expected to be launched in January, 2023, in response to the need to raise the level of literacy in that community.
GUYDA has also supported students’ participation in the STEM Guyana initiative. It has also given school supplies to the youth of New Amsterdam through the Gordon Foundation.
During the 2020 Pandemic, GUYDA hosted two panel discussions on the “Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Youth of Guyana” to determine the needs of the youth. It responded to the felt needs by providing relief to Bagostsville residents, East Bank Demerara as well as Charity, and Jack Low communities in the Pomeroon. GUYDA also provided tablets to the youth of Charity to support virtual learning.
During the recent visit, GUYDA members held discussions with University of Guyana officials to develop linkages for further educational support to the country’s youth. It also provides scholarships to financially challenged students to attend the University of Guyana and other learning institutions. One such scholarship is the Matriarch Rose October Scholarship for students who are pursuing a Degree in Social Work.
Two of the recipients, who have graduated from the Cyril Potter School of Education, will be part of the Literacy Programme, which will target students between the ages of six and ten, and will be hosted by Rev Richard King at God’s Battalion of Prayer Centre in Charity.