Global Pandemic & Impact

                   MEDIA RELEASE  

August 29, 2020  

Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) this week stared its face mask distribution campaign whereby 30 groups spanning seven regions – comprising schools, NGO’s and Sports Organizations will benefit from 60 thousand 3-ply face mask received as a gift from California to Guyana Basketball Foundation, a non-profit organization based in the United States. YBG is grateful for the opportunity to assist in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic that has to date taken some 35 precious lives and infected over one thousand of our citizens.  We also would like to remind everyone of the necessity of wearing a face mask, whenever in public or among other people, and to adhere to the public health preventative guidelines as a vital new habits.

 Regards, Chris Bowman

Recipients:  Sister Claudette Jones and Ms. Tracy Williams of St Ann’s Orphanage receiving 2000 face mask. Ms. Keishelle Joseph of Bosco Boys Orphanage receiving 2000 face mask. Reverend Dexter Cornette of the Church of God receiving 4000 face masks Ms. Leona Kyte of the YBG Development program for kids receiving 2000 face mask.

 (Please refer to the photo section)*

California 2 Guyana Basketball Foundation Donates 120,000 3-ply Masks for Covid Relief.

August 18, 2020

Through the generous donations of Sun Coast Merchandise Corporation, a Los Angeles based marketing company, California 2 Guyana Basketball Foundation has been able to donate 120,000 3-ply masks to help prevent the spread of COVID19.

20,000 masks have been donated to GIVA (Giving Is Getting), an organization based in Los Angeles who has distributed the masks to the following groups:

1. International Support for Humanity sending masks to Africa.

2. The Basement in Long Beach that supports and feeds the homeless.

3. Christian Fellowship of America supports local San Pedro homeless, abused females and addicts.

100,000 masks have been shipped to Georgetown where they arrived this month.

20,000 masks were donated to The Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF). The FYF was established in 1998 by former boxer and boxing promoter Keith Bazilio. The group works with young men and women to instill the discipline, work ethic, and confidence necessary to succeed in a life full of challenges while also promoting physical mastery and self-defense. Located in the neighborhood of Albouystown, which has traditionally been stigmatized as one of Georgetown’s most dangerous neighborhoods, FYF stands out from other boxing gyms by the social goals at its core. The FYF operates on the belief that boxing can serve as an important tool in the positive development of marginalized youth, and that boxing clubs and coaches can play a role as spokespersons and advocates for their community.

60,000 masks were donated to Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG), our primary partners. YBG is the premier provider of programs and services for youth basketball at the grass-root and high school levels in Guyana. YBG is registered as a Non-Profit Organization under the laws of Guyana and is run by an Executive/Board; constituted of three Directors and four Zone Coordinators- Georgetown/East Bank, Linden, East Coast and New Amsterdam/Corentyne, Berbice. YBG’s mission is to build structure through basketball by establishing a link between grass-roots and school activities and to create pathways for elite participation and performances by nurturing the next generation of student-athletes.

20,000 masks were donated to The Learning Center. The Basil and Doris Bazilio Learning Center of West Coast Berbice, Guyana founded by Bazilio Cobb Associates approximately 10 years ago. The Learning Center has two programs. The first program is to provide lessons for children up to standard 4. The second program is to provide an introduction to computers. Under the direction of Ms. Carole Watts and several teachers from the area around No. 28 Village, each day since inception, an average of 65 children attend the Center, and so far over 500 have been served. For the Computer education program a local teacher from Hopetown is the instructor. In the intervening 9 years the learning center has graduated more than 400 students who have been instructed in the using the MS Office Suite of software.

During these times of a global pandemic that disproportionately affects people of color and those in less fortunate communities around the world. When youth sports, schools, and at risk centers grind to a halt affecting the lives of children; the pivot and focus of securing life saving masks to these groups became California 2 Guyana's number one priority.