aimed at assisting vulnerable children through gift-giving and festive activities. The event was held at the George Walcott Lecture Theatre and attracted more than 100 children and parents. The programme was funded through contributions from DECC staff, who donated gifts, grocery hampers, and several household items to support families during the Christmas season. Children were selected from Sophia, Cummings Lodge, and other nearby areas, with the initiative intended to spread holiday cheer and ensure that children in vulnerable circumstances experienced a memorable Christmas.

Activities during the programme included storytelling by University of Guyana lecturers, carolling, and games such as candy hunting, musical chairs, and a piñata. Parents were also engaged through activities such as The Price Is Right, which resulted in the distribution of hampers containing self-care products and household items, including toasters and kettles, all donated by faculty and staff. Children throughout the programme expressed excitement and joy, with one child stating, “I really am enjoying myself.” Many children responded enthusiastically when asked about their experience at the event.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Paloma Mohamed was also present and, in an interview with Kaieteur News outlined the mission behind the initiative. “This is a historical series of things that the University does. It started quite a number of years ago. It was Santa’s Helpers event, and they started very small,” she said. She explained that the programme initially began as a nine-day festival during which staff raised funds to purchase gifts for children, but over the years it evolved into an annual celebration that expanded in scope. “Everybody pays their money, and then we buy gifts, but I think that the team at DECC has done really well this year. This year they have really expanded, because they add games, they add things for parents, etc., and so we make more and more children come out and experience this initiative,” she said. Professor Mohamed praised the overall success of the programme, describing it as the most impactful to date. “I think it was phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal, I think it’s the best so far, and of course the biggest so far, because people were actually just walking in the door, I know that because they were coming to ask me what was going on here, and then they just stayed and you know, it is what it is, but the DECC really, excelled.” (Kaieteur News)