AVON Community Help Fund

The AVON Community Help Fund (ACHF) was incorporated on August 24, 2005. The primary objective of the fund is to assist in meeting the medical, social and economic needs of individuals and communities as a whole.

Committee Members

The ACHF is comprised of nine volunteering committee members who are all Staff of Beauty and Home Systems (Guy) Inc. and/or Avon representatives. The present committee was establish in April of 2006 and is composed of the following:

1. Mignon Bowen – Chairperson also an Avon Sales Representative
2. Shunell Pooran – Secretary also a payment clerk of Beauty and Homes Systems (Guy) Inc.
3. Bibi Hassan – Treasurer, also an Avon Sales Representative
4. Patrick Doolichand – Coordinator, also works independently with beauty & Home Systems (Guy) Inc.
5. Melissa Mars – Committee Member, also the Finance Manager/Company Secretary of Beauty and Homes Systems (Guy) Inc.
6. Adunni Orderson – Committee Member, also an Avon Sales Representatives.
7. Gloria John – Committee Member, also an Avon Sales Representative.
8. Juditha DaCosta – Committee Member, also an Avon Sales Representative.
9. Thomas Profitt – Committee Member, also an Avon Sales Representative.

Accomplishments

Year 2005

• In the year 2005 the company financed the building of a fence and basketball project in a rural area of the country. This project was deemed unsuccessful since the basketball court was demolished due to a subsequent government project.
• Monthly Contributions to another charitable organisation in Guyana which supplies food, clothing and other household products to less fortunate persons across the country.
• Executed a monthly feeding program for children in distressed urban area in the country.
• Contributions to a medical and psychological clinic which helps women who want to abort their fetus. This purpose of this clinic is to provide counseling and assistance to persuade the women not to abort the fetus. Also, to link the pre-natal mothers to individuals who are interested in adoption.

Year 2006

Breast Cancer Week of Activities 2006

In recognition of Cancer Awareness Month, the company embarked on a mission to improve the lives of women, with a special focus on the breast cancer education and awareness. The company is committed to raising the awareness of this disease by providing the information needed to assist women to make and take the correct choices and action leading towards early detection and treatment.
Breast Cancer has affected the lives of hundreds of women in Guyana who are our mothers, sisters, friends, relatives and co-workers. This disease if detected early can be treated and the individual continue to live a healthy life in the future.
The promotion of the Breast Cancer Awareness Programme is the first major public activity of the company and we were confident that our work can make a difference in the lives of women locally.
A week of activities was planned and executed for the period October 15-21 with the full inclusion and cooperation of the representatives of District 1206.
Sponsorship letters were sent to various companies and organisations requesting donations and participation for the week of activities. The response to these letters considered overwhelming especially since the company and the activity was an entirely new venture.
In fulfillment of a public promise and commitment, the company donated medical supplies from the proceeds of the week of activities to Beacon Foundation, a foundation in city which helps cancer patients.

Other Projects / Events 2006

• In April, the members of the fund donated packages to 17 elderly women of St. Vincent DePaul Home; an elderly female home. This was done to bring Easter cheer to these women. The packages contained hygienic, tea and cleaning supplies. The ACHF also maintains the yard of the elderly home by weeding and cleaning on a bi-weekly basis.
• Various donations to the Salvation Army, Radio’s Needy Children Fund, and other charitable groups and organisations.
• Participation at a health fair hosted by the Ministry of Health.

Year 2007

Breast Cancer Awareness 2007

• In January, the committee members conducted a Cancer Awareness Outreach program in Essequibo (a remote rural area of Guyana). Fifty persons were provided with information on how to do the Breast Self Examination.
• In recognition of Cancer Survivors Day, the committee held a Breast Cancer Awareness Outreach for the public on Saturday, 2 June 2007 from 9.30 a.m. to 12 noon. The Periwinkle Club was invited to participate on this occasion. About 90 persons were targeted. Information on how to do the Breast Self Examination (BSE) in the comfort of your own home was provided free of cost.
• A new Club, Periwinkle Women’s Club to support cancer survivors was launched at the Guyana Red Cross Society. The company supported the activity and participated at the launch.
• The directors of the company acquired a Breast Cancer model to strengthen the education programme of breast self examination.
• Breast Cancer Awareness Week of Activities: A week of activities was held during the period 14 -20 October 2007. The Committee attracted some new sponsors and added the “Wear Pink Day” on Thursday Oct 18 to the week of activities. Over 600 persons participated in the walk, along with the Directors/Shareholders of the company, Mr. Juan Cabrera; AVON District Manager and the Honourable Minister of Health. Proceeds of the breast cancer walk and week of activities will be used to help women get mammogram at the country’s cancer institute.

Other Projects / Events 2007

• Donations to the Salvation Army, Radio’s Needy Children Fund, and various other charitable groups and organisations and needy individuals.
• Continued maintenance of the yard of the elderly home by weeding and cleaning on a bi-weekly basis.
• In June, the company renovated the fence of a primary school in the city. The fence was official handed over b the chairman and committee members in September 2007. The President of the Parent Teachers Association expressed thanks on behalf of the school population. The company also made a solemn commitment to donate two swings to the school. The swings are currently being manufactured and are schedule to be presented in the second week of December 2007.
• The company donated 395 books and fabric to the New Opportunity Corp (NOC) which is located in a remote rural area of the country. The NOC is a correctional facility for the over 200 children below the age of 18yrs. Most of the cases are for loitering, a few for minor criminal activities and an isolated case for armed robbery. The centre is self sufficient for its agricultural products both poultry rearing and cash crops. The students are taught carpentry, metal work, dressmaking, needlecraft and knitting, tye-dying (both classroom and practical) the maximum custodial sentence is three years. The Committee pledge to support the literacy programme on an annual basis. A Letter was received from New Opportunity Corp expressing thanks for donation of books for the remedial classes and the fabrics for the sewing programme.
• The company honoured the country’s top four (4) academic performers for 2007 in the form of individual monetary donations to the students and a special luncheon for the students and their parents. The company’s chairman pledged additional assistance to the students providing they pursue tertiary education and maintain high grades. The parents and students were thankful for the recognition and mentioned that it was the first acknowledgement to be received by the students.
• The company successfully held a tea party to raise funds to purchase supplies for various children’s homes and organisations for Christmas. Side attractions at this event included modeling, singing, and dancing.

Year 2008

Breast Cancer Awareness 2008

• In January, the committee members conducted a Cancer Awareness Outreach program in Essequibo (a remote rural area of Guyana). Over fifty persons were provided with information on how to do the Breast Self Examination.
• In October the committee in collaboration with the Ministry of Health launch the pink ribbon project at Christ Church Secondary school in Georgetown. The objective of the pink ribbon in school is to bring breast cancer awareness in the young men and women and promote our slogan “Early Detection Save Lives”.
• A week of activities was held during the period 12 -18 October 2008. Over 400 persons participated in the walk, along with the Honourable Minister of Health; Dr. Leslie Ramsammy. Proceeds of the breast cancer walk and week of activities will be used to make a donation of medical supplies to the Beacon Foundation.

Other Projects / Events 2008

• Supplies were purchased and donated Ptoliemy Rheid Children’s home.
• The company made a financial contribution towards the fund for eleven persons who were killed in Guyana in January.
• A double sided metal sign was donated to the Guyana Bible Society in April.
• A fund raising fair was organized and held by the committee in August. The fair featured various dishes, crafts and products from the Guyanese culture.
• The company opted to pay the full tuition fees, purchase study materials and other school supplies for two of the top students that were honoured in September 2007. The students are pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine at the University of Guyana.

Year 2010

Activities for Breast Cancer Awareness 2010

Breast Cancer Awareness T-Shirts will be available at the Avon Office 219 Camp Street, North Cummingsburg.

Plans for the Future

Establishment of a Support Center and Separate Office

The directors/shareholders as the visionary of the company, plan to establish a support center for breast cancer patients since there is a dire need for such a center in the country. At the symposium for the breast cancer education and awareness we recognized that most persons after discovering that they have breast cancer do not know what to do next. The center will provide care, counseling and other support for the patients and their families and caretakers. A building has been identified and is currently being renovated. It is estimated that the center will be opened officially by mid 2010.
The building will also be used as the official office of the Avon Community Help Fund and capable and suitable full-time staff will be hired. The company is currently housed at the office of Beauty & Home Systems (Guy) Inc.

Sub-Committee Groups

The company plans to establish sub-committees in various sections of the country. This will assist the company to carry out its aim of effectively and steadily spreading breast cancer awareness and education and support throughout the country.