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MEN on Mission (MOM) recently handed over a newly constructed two-bedroom home in Anna Regina Mainstay to Shervin DeYounge, a 43-year-old father of five.
During the handover ceremony, Public Works Minister Deodat Indar shared a personal reflection, saying, “When I was a child, I lived in a house smaller than this one, with few windows. The house was made of wood, it was rotting and the roof was leaking. I lived with nine other siblings, but despite these challenges, I became a pastor, thank God.
“So, I want to tell you that your children, too, can achieve their dreams with hard work and dedication. In my day, there were no programs like Men on Mission, so I’m glad you reached out to them.”
He went on to say: “Dr. Mohammad Irfaan Ali and the PPP truly care about the poor. We have many plans in place to help those in need, in addition to those already in place. The fire was a destroyer, but what happened afterward is worth celebrating. I know the fire destroyed your home, Mr. Dejan, but now you have a better home.”
On September 6, 2023, the home of DeYounge, his wife, and their five children (three daughters and two sons) was destroyed in a fire. At the time, one of his children was sick with dengue fever and was unable to move.
His wife acted quickly and rescued the children from the fire. Sherwin was known locally as a helpful, hard-working man who worked hard to provide for his family despite unstable work.
During this challenging time, his children have excelled academically, with one recently enrolled at Anna Regina Secondary School.
Reflecting on their journey, DeYounge said, “It hasn’t been easy, but standing here today, I can say that all the struggles were worth it. My wife has been a rock for me, and so have my children, even when things seemed hopeless.”
After contacting the MOM, Shervin remained patient throughout the process with the support of Khemraj Shivbaran, the district commander and vice chairman of the district MOM committee.
He commented: “I went to the (MOM) regional chairman many times. I sometimes wondered if I had bored him; I went to him many times, but he remained calm. He never raised his voice; he never made excuses, or had his secretary tell me he was out of the office. Or when he called someone on the phone and said, what can we do about this person?”
Now, DeYounge and his family have a place they can truly call home.
“I can’t forget to thank everyone in the community for the help that they’ve given us. I’m grateful, so I speak for my family and I hope this message gets to your Excellency, the word ‘delighted’ is not enough; the word ‘ecstatic’ is not enough; the word ‘overjoyed’ is not enough, there aren’t enough words to encapsulate how we feel at this moment and how we’re going to continue to feel every time we step into this beautiful home. So again, I say, thank you all. God bless you all. Thank you,” he said.
State MOM coordinator Lt. Col. Bhageshwar Murli also spoke at the event and stressed the importance of partnership with the private sector.
He said: “One of our most important partners is the private sector. Today, KGM Security donated a refrigerator, stove and a set of chairs to Mr. Deyang. Other private sector companies have also expressed their willingness to work with us to contribute to society.”
Lt. Col. Murley also discussed the Youth Empowerment and Mentoring Program (YEMP), noting, “The ‘Men’s Mission’ was primarily focused on at-risk, vulnerable populations, and more importantly, men and boys, however, the program has evolved into providing shelter, housing, and other needs that we find as we go to various communities.”
The Youth Education Program (YEMP), which has been launched in Districts 9 and 4 and plans to expand to Districts 5, 6 and 3, targets at-risk children, emphasizes self-discipline and exposes them to activities outside the traditional school setting, such as karate and archery.
“We want to inspire them and let them know that there are other options and we have already enrolled one of their children in the cricket academy. So I say this to emphasize that the Man of Mission program initiated by His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali demonstrates his compassion and sense of responsibility towards the citizens of Guyana,” Murley said.
The handover ceremony was attended by District Commander and District MOM Committee Vice Chairman Shivbaran, District Chairperson Vilma DeSilva, MOM Executive Committee members Dr. Josh Khanhai and Mr. Roger Rogers, and community members.
The Man on a Mission initiative, under President Ali’s vision, continues to respond to the call of those in need, focusing on providing mentoring and improving living conditions for persons with disabilities, retirees, victims of natural disasters or fires, and single mothers with more than three children, to empower vulnerable groups across Guyana and create an enabling environment for men.
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