GEPAN continues to invest in its year-round Support Education Campaign (SEC) by providing ICT material to learning institutions and children in need.
Though there have been efforts from governments to introduce Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in schools in Guyana, not all schools benefit from ICT hubs or learning centers and there is still a widespread absence of equipment in stations.
Hinterland primary and secondary schools in which the majority of indigenous children are enrolled are, of course, most affected.
This is why the Santa Rosa Primary School reached out to GEPAN through a member of our network to request assistance in setting up a television station for students. Thanks to our network of donors we were able to provide a 55” Samsung Smart TV which will allow children to view educational videos, movies and media. Many of these children do not have televisions or computers in their homes.
Santa Rosa is a predominantly indigenous community of the sub-district of Moruka in Region 1, home to the Warou, Carib and Arawak peoples. It is located in the North of Guyana’s coastline which is known for its lush forests and riverine communities.
Approximately 581 children from several neighboring communities are enrolled in the Santa Rosa Primary School. Despite the social and economic challenges typically associated with indigenous communities in the hinterland, Santa Rosa has over the years produced several outstanding public figures, including members of government and artistes, such as Stephen Campbell, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Victor Ferreira, Basil Rodrigues, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Pauline Sukhai, Roben Stoby, etc.
The achievements of these outstanding Guyanese serve as a reminder that education is key to breaking the barriers of poverty and inequalities. Investing in universal education therefore goes beyond achieving one SDG goal, but instead addresses more deep-rooted and chronic issues of poverty, as well as social and economic disparities prevalent in indigenous and rural communities.
It is precisely for this reason that providing incentives for education will continue to remain one of GEPAN’S main focus.
Currently, GEPAN’s back-to school campaign and higher-learning programme are open for funding. For more information visit our homepage and to support our actions click here.
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