CARICOM Secretariat Staff Talent Committee spreads holiday cheer with annual toy drive

Tusankine English Francis

, December 15, 2025

00:00

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat Staff Talent Committee continued its tradition of bringing festive cheer to children and young people living outside traditional home environments through its annual toy drive.

CARICOM Secretariat’s Driver, Mr. Carlyle Softly smiles as he brings Christmas cheers to the Guyana Red Cross Society Children’s Convalescent Home, Durban Backlands, Georgetown, Guyana,

The initiative followed a collection drive at the Secretariat, where staff members were encouraged to donate new, unwrapped toys or make monetary contributions toward purchasing gifts.

On Tuesday, 10 December, members of the Committee delivered gifts, books, and games to two orphanages and two care centres for children and vulnerable juveniles under the care of the Government of Guyana.

Chair of the Staff Talent Committee, Ms. Vanessa Hercules bringing greetings to the boys at St. John Bosco Orphanage on behalf of the CARICOM Secretariat

House Parents, Matrons, and Teachers of the Guyana Red Cross Society Children’s Convalescent Home; the Sophia Care Centre; the Plum Park Sophia Children and Family Centre; and the St. John Bosco Orphanage expressed gratitude for the generosity of the CARICOM Secretariat’s staff on behalf of the children in their care.

Staff Talent Committee Member, Ms. Tusankine English-Francis (L) and Chair of the Committee, Ms. Vanessa Hercules (2nd, R) standing with the Head Teacher of the St. John Bosco Orphanage’s education centre, Ms. Lucille Daniels (R), as well as other teachers at the school and home for vulnerable and orphaned boys. This orphanage is located in Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.

“We try to provide a home away from home, and your gift certainly helps us to do that,” Home Services Supervisor of the Sophia Care Centre, Ms. Chabela Lord said. She noted that House Parents usually wrap the gifts and place them under the Christmas tree for a grand opening on Christmas morning.

Smiles of gratitude from Pre-school Teacher of the Guyana Red Cross Society Children’s Convalescent Home, Ms Stacy Josephs (L) receive the gift sent from the Staff of the CARICOM Secretariat. Chair of Staff Talent Committee Ms. Vanessa Hercules (R) performs the handing over, joyfully.

Since 2013, the Secretariat has coordinated fundraising events to support orphanages, invited children from the Sophia Care Centre to participate in the CARICOM Staff Talent Celebration, and organized skill-building workshops, including animation training in collaboration with the Guyana Animation Network (GAN). Secretariat pensioners are also included in ongoing events and outreach efforts.