ACDA beyond Emancipation

By Dillon Goring

AFRICAN culture is normally featured and celebrated around this time of year in almost all the regions of the country, but more particularly in Region

Four for the Emancipation Day Festival held on August 1

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle , African Cultural and Development Association ( ACDA ) Coordinator Ayesha Haynes shared an inside perspective regarding the life of ACDA after the Emancipation event Haynes disclosed that all year, ACDA has a range of events that are done to celebrate African Heritage Month, building school-aged children and entrepreneurial ventures and programmes

“All year, we run a range of activities that we do within our communities: we have a children ’ s programme that runs every Saturday It is opened to anyone who wants to sign up , “ Haynes disclosed to this publication.

Haynes further explained that at the children ’ s programme, free African drumming , free History classes , field trips, and a diversity of programmes are done

She further noted that a transportation arrangement is being put in place to accommodate those children who have difficulties getting to the centre

“We also have a school called “the Centre of Learning Afrocentric Orientation Now initially , before we started the programme , we had started a programme that focuses on at - risk youths These were persons whom society says don ’ t have a chance, it was as a result that a mentorship programme was launched, “ Haynes disclosed to the Guyana Chronicle

Haynes outlined that the ACDA institution ran programmes primarily focused on a one-on-one session that is community - based , thus getting to the root of the problem

“ It , therefore , meant that ACDA had to design programmes that focused on changing the imagery of one’s self to a positive perspective, and that addressed the issue of maintaining one’s ability to see yourself in a positive light Once young people knew more about themselves, you saw a better and a more confident person; thus , their production improved quite significantly,” Haynes revealed

The school accommodates pupils from playgroups, all the way up to Grade Six

Further , the Sisters in Unity Programme is another programme that is run by ACDA, and it caters to single mothers who need support to feed their children

Haynes pointed out that every month , hampers are provided to help take care of the children and their needs

“ In order to be a part of it, you must be active in parenting, family planning, what are you doing to do more in a communal setting For example, we offer to help fundraise for programmes we do all year,” Haynes told the Guyana Chronicle

Haynes concluded that the African Cultural and Development Association

(ACDA) is more than just Emancipation celebrations, and there are a number of diverse programmes and

Ayesha Haynes (Japheth Savory photo) initiatives that are geared to ensure that the African community is equipped with the necessary skills set to develop and grow stronger as a community.