The Guyana office of the ‘Caring For Others’ International Not-For-Profit Organisation (CFO) executed the first overseas leg of the multi-country outreach of the United States, Atlanta-based organization’s new initiative ‘No Bare Soles’, an anti-poverty campaign launched in 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia to address the phenomenon of shoe poverty in the USA Metropolis and across several targeted countries.
Two Saturdays ago, May 18, 2024 Chief Executive Officer and Founder of CFO Ms. Eslene Richmond- Shockley and members of her Atlanta team joined the Country Director for Guyana, Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira, in Linden for the activity which catered for five thousand persons. Figueira and his team were able to mobilise residents, both children and adults from communities across the mining town to be gifted brand-new original sneakers. Mixed food hampers, along with a financial token of love were also distributed to more than a hundred senior citizens at the Wisrock, Wismar exercise.
Figueira became involved with the international organisation in 2015 to bring practical poverty alleviation to his Region Ten constituents through the organization’s auspices and has been conducting almost monthly distribution exercises across the region, focusing on the wide-ranging needs of families, students, and young entrepreneurs. These efforts have been hailed as being among the most impactful poverty alleviation initiatives seen in Guyana in modern, history.
Earlier this year, at a White House ceremony, the Biden Administration recognized the Guyanese Philanthropist Ms. Richmond-Shockley and the ‘Caring For Others Organization’ work to eradicate food insecurity, to underserved communities. Under Ms. Shockley’s visionary leadership, the CFO has worked for the past twenty-five years with a mission to eradicate poverty, hunger, and clothing insecurity in the United States and across several targeted countries of the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia.
During the mega exercise, Ms. Shockley echoed her White House remarks, “Growing up in an impoverished area of Guyana, I never envisioned that one day I would be recognised by the White House for my efforts and those of my dedicated and selfless teams working to make a significant impact in our anti-poverty drive”. Here in Guyana, she added, “The consistent and impactful leadership of our Country Director Jermaine Figueira has been a source of much satisfaction and encouragement for us”.
The organisation has pledged to increase its Guyana footprint with an expanded focus in entrepreneurial areas that could redound to the empowerment of more residents in the poorer communities of Region Ten and elsewhere across the country.
Whilst Guyana is ranked the world’s fastest growing economy and the richest per capita, 49 percent of the people are poor and 48 percent live on less than US$5.50 (GY$1200) per day. Linden/Region 10 is an economically marginalised community and continues to feel the brunt of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government policy of economic alienation of some sections and communities in society. Guyana is expected to earn approximately US$2.8 Billion in oil and gas revenue this year. The 2024 National Budget is GY$1.146 Trillion.
