Seventy-five-year-old pensioner Abdool Nazir and his wife, Zanita Persaud, are now homeowners after receiving a newly constructed house through the Men on Mission (MoM) initiative, providing the couple with greater security and improved living conditions.
Nazir, who has been living with end-stage kidney disease, had been struggling to build a home on land allocated to him by the government before reaching out to MoM for assistance.
Expressing gratitude for the assistance, Nazir said the support had made a life-changing difference for him and his wife.
“If it wasn’t for the Men on Mission, I would never own a home,” he said, thanking the initiative, the contractors, workers and everyone who contributed to the construction.
At the handover ceremony at Providence on the East Bank of Demerara, Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith said the handover demonstrated how the President’s vision of men playing a more active role in society was being translated into meaningful support for communities.
He commended the men from the public and private sectors who volunteered their time and resources to improve the lives of vulnerable citizens, while encouraging other eligible families to seek assistance through the initiative.
“We can continue to build bridges and schools and hospitals and infrastructure. But if we don’t work now on the people who will inherit the Guyana that we are building, we are preparing for an unfortunate future,” the minister said.
Minister Griffith also stressed on the impact the MoM has had in the various communities across Guyana since its debut.
He said, “I am extremely proud of the work that the Men on Mission has achieved so far. 161 homes within four years is no easy endeavor, they are governments which are unable to achieve that. It represents the families who were impacted and their lives are forever changed.”
National Coordinator Lieutenant Colonel Bhageshwar Murli highlighted the significance of the initiative, noting that the latest handover brings the number of homes delivered to approximately 161 since the programme began four years ago.
Lt Col Murli also encouraged other vulnerable families who meet the eligibility criteria to seek assistance, emphasising that the initiative remains committed to supporting those in need.
He described the newly constructed house as more than a physical structure, highlighting the security and stability that homeownership provides.
“This is more than a structure, Mr. Nazir. This is now your sanctuary. This is your place of refuge. This is your place of protection,” he said.
Since its launch by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali in October 2022, Men on Mission has expanded its work beyond mentoring boys and men to include house construction, repairs and the provision of building materials for vulnerable households.
The initiative has constructed more than 170 homes, with approximately 161 handed over to beneficiaries.
Further, Men on Mission operates Youth Empowerment Programmes (YEP) in Georgetown, Region Nine and Region Six, offering children meals, homework assistance, literacy and numeracy support, life skills training and sporting activities.
The initiative is also advancing a Men Empowerment and Mentorship Programme (MEMP) targeting incarcerated men and their children, with the aim of strengthening family relationships, providing guidance and helping to break cycles of offending.
Men on Mission continues to assess applications for housing assistance, with priority given to vulnerable individuals and families who meet the programme’s eligibility criteria.
