$73m ‘Learning Lab’ for the differently abled commissioned in Mahaica

The Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud commissioned the $73M ‘Learning Lab’ in Mahaica on Wednesday.

This is the first center of this nature in Guyana, dedicated to the development and empowerment of persons living with disabilities. The building features three training halls and a state-of-the-art kitchen.

The learning lab will focus on technical and vocational skills with the strategic direction of having persons who leave the learning lab with skills so that they can gain financial independence.

The minister said the lab is also a centre that focuses on empowerment, life skills and provides a safe space for recreation and meetings.

While through the Spotlight Initiative, $5M worth of furniture was donated to the center, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Yesim Oruc highlighted how this initiative advanced Guyana’s push relating to the Sustainable Development Goals.

She said, “this programme has allowed us to partner with you today as part of the broader partnership with the European Union…Some of what I see here are the distinguishing features of the Guyana Spotlight implementation…I commend this initiative to make human rights, especially Guyana’s obligations to various international conventions on disabilities and its local laws to ensure that all the articles of these conventions are tangible.”

Programme Coordinator for the Guyana Society for the Blind, Ganesh Singh shared his thoughts on this move and said, “What we are seeing now is transformative and this building, from what I experienced will have a significant impact on the lives of people living with disabilities, there is now a space, not just for training but recreational purposes where persons can develop and learn living skills.”

Sabane McIntosh of the Deaf Association of Guyana noted the building allows for access for the blind, deaf and wheelchair users.