Miss Guyana UK opens Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre Library

Jul 07, 2015 News

Miss Guyana United Kingdom,
Zena Bland, cutting the ribbon on Friday.

Miss Guyana United Kingdom, Zena Bland, flew in from London last week to host the official opening ceremony of the Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre (RCAC) library on July 4.
The ribbon was cut at 16:30 hours. Many members of the community made an appearance to show their support for the work being done by the centre.
The Beauty Queen, who studied at Middlesex University, England, is also a dedicated sports-woman.
Co-incidentally, the same flight that brought Zena to Guyana on this occasion also brought two students from England. They will be running the RCAC summer school this year. Zara Edwards and Fae Krakowska, 21 and 22 respectively, have decided to spend their summer contributing to the RCAC, after being inspired by Zara’s sister-in-law, Michelle Edwards, whose ancestors were involved in setting up the centre in 1991.
With them they brought a cheque for £1000 (approximately $324,000), donated to the centre by Mrs Edwards. The money will go towards paying off debts that have accumulated during the post-election period.
New York student, Natalia Dave, who has been travelling to and from Guyana since she was ten, has also made significant financial and practical contributions to the centre. After running the summer school last year, she independently raised funds for a new playground for the children.
Unfortunately, due to a shortage of funds and the need to pay off debt, plans for the construction of the playground were postponed. Staff and volunteers focused on providing food for the children.
Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre provides meals on a daily basis for the children of the community.
Currently relying on the generosity of donors, the RCAC is still in desperate need of money and supplies in order to keep providing a safe, educational environment for local children.
Jessica Hatfield, Patron of the centre for four years, has been working hard to find resources that can be utilised during the summer school, but she urgently calls for more aid to ensure that the centre is kept up and running.
“The Ruimveldt Children Aid’s Centre is not only a charitable institution: it is a second home for up to a hundred children who rely on the love and care of those who work there.
The kids need the encouragement to be ambitious and to unlock their true hidden talent.”
A craft sale will take place at the end of the August holidays when the RCAC will be selling items made by the children over the duration of the programme.
Materials for this have been generously donated by Ms Jocelyn Dow who will be hosting the craft sale. The summer school will run from July 7 to early September.