Residents of Little Red Village on Guyana’s Essequibo Coast now have access to a new community hub following the official commissioning of the ‘Lil Red Community Centre’ on November 27.
Constructed by Food for the Poor (Guyana) Inc. – with a grant from SBM Offshore Guyana – the centre provides a dedicated and accessible space for recreation, youth programs, skills training, meetings and cultural activities, a release from SBM Offshore shared today.
The facility was handed over to the Onderneeming community, with the Community Development Council (CDC) overseeing. Designed to support long-term social upliftment, the project reflects the partners’ shared commitment to investing in the well-being and future of the Little Red community, the release said.
In August 2024, the partners turned the sod to begin construction, marking the start of the project that has now reached completion.
Ahead of the commissioning, representatives from Food for the Poor Inc. and SBM Offshore met with the CDC and its management sub-committee to review the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), ensuring that all parties were aligned on the roles, responsibilities and long-term management of the new facility.
A vibrant cultural ceremony marked the official opening of the building, featuring remarks from the partners.
General Manager of SBM Offshore Guyana, Martin Cheong, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting community-driven initiatives that create meaningful impact. “SBM Offshore Guyana is pleased to support communities across Guyana through a range of capacity-building programs, from technical training and scholarships to STEM and community resilience projects.”
He added: “This centre is another example of our commitment to helping build a stronger and more skilled Guyana.”
Food for the Poor Inc. CEO Andrea Benjamin shared that Little Red Village is one of the organization’s largest communities, with 100 homes initially built about 16 years ago. She said the new centre creates safe spaces for youth and the community as a whole. “This building represents more than just infrastructure; it represents opportunity, growth and empowerment.”
Both the Chairman of the Council, Kevin Lowe, and the Assistant Regional Education Officer, Yvette Tafares, expressed gratitude for the partnership and the opportunities it brings.
The Community Development Council has taken on the management of the facility. In addition to the MOU, the partners also signed an Education and Capacity Building Agreement to ensure that capacity building initiatives are regularly carried out at the centre, maximizing the facility’s use.
