NGO NCC and HOPE Foundation Bartica kick off a two-day outreach in Region 7

From Left – Mr. Hugh Park, Ms . Nichola Richards & Mr. Ivor Melville

NGO NCC and HOPE Foundation Bartica kick off a two-day outreach in Region 7

May 3, 2023

The NCC team was led by Gender Based Violence case navigator Ms. Nichola Richard and legal consultant Mr. Hugh Park in Cuyuni-Mazaruni Region 7 to add to the two-day outreach to the migrant community. The team is providing support to the Community Support Officer (CSO) Mr. Ivor Melville who is one of the three CSOs attached to the NCC, who spearheads the work in this region.

The session was kicked off by Ms. Richards who gave an overview on the work of the National Coordinating Coalition Inc. She engaged the over two dozen gathered at the Agatash Community Health post by providing examples of success stories of migrants who received service and some instances when there were referrals. She seized the opportunity to address the fact that men also have utilized the GBV HELPLINE which is an upward trend. The gathering was reassured of the confidential and efficient approach of the multi-lingual case navigation and GBV specialist team.

The legal consultant of the NCC Mr. Hugh Park, took the gathering through all of the legal

services provided free of cost by the NCC. He used an example of spousal abuse where the process begins with a police report or district magistrate court to an eventual granting of court order and relief to a survivor. He also took time to provide some advice to an attendant during today’s outreach.

Mr. Melvillle is the head of the Bartica-based NGO which has been in existence for 26 years had a session on gender-based violence, sexual reproductive health, and their co-relation. He also highlighted the risks that women face within the community with specificity on the migrants.

At the end of the session, care packages, flyers, and brochures were given to the participants.