The Need

It is in the context of the overall challenges faced by The Republic of Guyana that specific needs need to be examined. Those who find themselves in difficulty are not living in an environment where solutions present themselves easily. It is not straight forward for individuals to extract themselves using relocation or re-employment or re-education.

What services are available such as medical services require the individual to pay significant amounts of money, there is almost no state assistance for those who are destitute and so exploitation is a significant part of the underground economy. Many who are in need are also trapped in financially exploitative circumstances which only serve to compound their difficulties.

Further to this, is the fact that short term solutions do much to alleviate immediate difficulty and, although in some circumstances, this may be enough (and it is certainly better than nothing), they do not provide life solutions by empowering individuals to control their own lives. In fact too much in the way of handouts simply creates dependency.

It is proposed to identify, support, organise and train local people to provide community based responses to the local needs.