Guyana Country Packet Updated January 2017
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Guyana Country Packet Updated January 2017 Maranatha in Guyana In 2017, the Seventh-day Adventist Church will commemorate 130 years of activity in Guyana. Their work over the years has resulted in 54,000 members and 214 congregations meeting each Sabbath. At one time, the Adventist Church operated several schools in Guyana, but in 1976, the government prohibited all private schools. The policy has now changed, but the Adventist Church has not yet re-started any schools in the country. Seeking to change this, church leadership has made a commitment to start a new school. Maranatha has committed to construct a new elementary school campus in the capital city of Georgetown. The current scope of Maranatha’s involvement will begin with the school campus and a few church buildings and will be fully defined as the project evolves. Maranatha will offer the first volunteer projects in the spring of 2016. Volunteer Opportunities In Guyana, Maranatha will focus on the construction of a One-Day School campus in Georgetown as well as One-Day Church frames located throughout the country. Volunteer projects typically combine construction with community outreach in the form of medical clinics and children’s programs. However, the details of each project vary, depending on the volunteers, availability of opportunities, and needs of the local church. Project Funding The local church is responsible for providing the land and labor to excavate the site. Maranatha has agreed to raise funds to help subsidize the building costs in Guyana. These funds are provided by donations from individuals, churches, school groups, and businesses as well as the donors of the $10 Church program. If you or your team are interested in helping to sponsor a church or school in Guyana, please speak with Maranatha for more information. Guyana Overview Facts & Figures Guyana is a small country located in the northern part of South America. It is situated above Brazil and to the east of Venezuela. The northern border of the country lies along the Capital: Georgetown Atlantic Ocean. While technically located on the mainland of Nationality: Guyanese South America, it is often included in the Caribbean region due Population: 735,909 to its strong cultural ties to the Caribbean community. Poverty: 35% The country was originally inhabited by several indigenous Unemployment: 11% groups and was eventually settled by the Dutch and then the Languages: English and British. The colony was primarily used for agriculture and Guyanese exporting sugar and rice to Europe. In 1838, many lower- Creole caste Indians were brought from India to Guyana to serve as Literacy: 89% indentured servants in the sugar trade. They intermixed with the Guyanese and form approximately half of the Guyanese Life Expectancy: 68.4 years population today. Guyana received its independence from the HIV/AIDS: 1.5% United Kingdom in 1966. Climate: Tropical; hot and humid. Guyana remains one of the most rural and untouched countries Rainy seasons of South America. Much of the transportation and tourism May to August infrastructure that is present in other South American countries and November doesn’t exist in Guyana yet. This has resulted in one of the to January. largest unspoiled rainforests in the region, much of which is Religion: Protestant 48%, almost inaccessible by humans. Hindu 28%, Catholic 8%, Culture Muslim 7% Guyanese culture is very similar to other English-speaking Economy: Industries: Caribbean countries. Its unique blend of Indo-Guyanese (East sugar, rice milling, Indian), Afro-Guyanese (African), and British colonial history timber, gold mining has created a country with a variety of interests, food, festivals, sports, and music. Exports: sugar, gold, rice Currency: Guyanese Dollar The cuisine of Guyana is similar to other Caribbean countries Time Zone: UTC -04:00 with variations of rice and beans, but also includes international influences such as Indian curry, British pastries, and chow mein. Staple foods include cassava, sweet potato, seafood, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Many of the holidays reflect the influence of the Indo-Guyanese people. Yearly celebrations include Indian Arrival Day, Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, and Holi, the Hindu festival of colors. Geography and Climate Georgetown is the country’s capital and largest city. Its bustling streets are the center of political activity and economic trade. However, outside the city, much of Guyana’s landscape remains untouched. More than 80% of Guyana is still covered by forests, which has one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world. The coastline isn’t defined with shorelines and sandy beaches but rather marshes, swamps, and sandbars. The coastal plain is made up mainly of mud, swept out to sea by the Amazon River. Guyana has a tropical climate, and there is little temperature variation throughout the year. Year-round temperatures range from low to mid 70’s to mid to high 80’s Fahrenheit. There are two rainy seasons: one from November to January and another from May to August. Northeast trade winds bring afternoon sea breezes to the coastal area. The country lies south of the path of most Caribbean hurricanes and none is known to have hit Guyana’s coast. 2 Cultural Sensitivity Maranatha’s volunteer experience includes meeting new people and learning how to serve them. It is important to enter another culture with humility, respect, and understanding of their traditions. Sometimes you may observe something in Guyana that will be very different from what you’re accustomed to. It does not make it wrong—just different. Be respectful and consider their perspective. Being sensitive to a culture also means being respectful to micro cultures, such as Adventism, within a larger culture. Adventists in Guyana tend to be more conservative than Adventists in the United States or Canada. We try to be sensitive to this by asking volunteers to dress as modestly as possible. Pants and cap sleeves are preferred to shorts and tank tops. For church activities, women need to have skirts or dresses reaching past the knees, and men need to wear ties and closed-toe shoes, especially if they are involved in platform activities Planning a Project Partnering with Maranatha There are many reasons to plan a project with Maranatha. After nearly 50 years of laser-focus on construction- oriented mission projects, the organization has this process mastered. • Maranatha has a great track record. In the mission field and at home, Maranatha has a strong reputation in the Seventh-day Adventist Church for reliability, organization, and quality. We have done this by building a team of people who understand that every detail is important when planning a mission trip. Maranatha will always have your worksite prepared and support you in creating a successful project for your team. • Maranatha provides local support. It is a huge help to have someone at your location, before your arrival, to scout out details and make arrangements for your group. Once your group arrives, our volunteer support person will be around to help as a translator if needed and navigate the inevitable bumps in the road. • Maranatha provides quality construction support. You don’t have to be a construction expert to build a project with Maranatha. Our in-country crew will prep the project site before you arrive, and they will stay to teach and assist the volunteers throughout the project. This approach provides each building and project consistency and quality control. • Maranatha office support is available as you plan. Kim Haas is the group project specialist at Maranatha. She is available for questions and resources as you plan your project and work with group members. • Maranatha is an independent organization, but we work hand-in-hand with Seventh-day Adventist Church leadership around the world. Every Maranatha project in Guyana has been selected by the local Adventist leadership and approved by the regional leadership as a priority for growth. This means that your project will have the full support of the larger church and sustainability for the future. Accommodations In Guyana, most Maranatha project leaders choose to have their group stay in a basic hotel. While there are many places with varying comfort and price levels, you should expect a rather simple hotel. Check with the project packet or your group leader for specific information regarding bed linens, towels and washcloths, hot water, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi availability, and eating facilities. Excursion Options Guyana is still a relatively undeveloped country of South America. It does not have a lot of tourism infrastructure in place. However, there are a few excursion options available in the country. To find the best excursion for your trip, try searching online. Look for peer ratings on various activities through sites like Trip Advisor. Guidebooks with chapters on Guyana are also good places to start. Maranatha has a few recommended excursions or activities that other groups have done in the past. Be sure to ask what is the best option for your group in the area where you will be working. 3 Attractions Georgetown (northern) | Georgetown is the capital city of Guyana and home to many historical buildings. From cathedrals to gardens and museums to zoos, Georgetown offers interesting sights and shopping throughout the city. Kaieteur Falls (central) | You have to take a short domestic flight to get to this waterfall, but the view is all worth it in the end. Surrounded by lush forrest and sounds of monkeys, the Potaro River thunders down Kaieteur Falls. This waterfall is the world’s highest single drop waterfall. Shell Beach (northern) | Located on the Atlantic coast, near the Venezuelan border, this beach extends for approximately 90 miles along the coast and is the nesting site for four sea turtle species.