The Ubuntu Young People Organization (UYPO) supports families in crisis through a Food Hamper Distribution Project. UYPO, is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) operated by young people in Guyana some of whom are members of the Guyana Congregational Union (GCU).

Founder and former Training in Mission participant Ominell Boyce noted, “We have the distribution done annually, so we select families that are finding it difficult to give children the proper nourishment they need.”  According to Ominell, to select the families, UYPO works in partnership with organisations within the community including the community policing group, teachers as well as counsellors who work with the neighbourhood and the Democratic Council, an organ of local government.

The project was initiated after the young people observed that even though there were feeding programmes within the schools, there weren’t nutritious meals prepared for the children when they got home. UYPO’s goal is to progress to a monthly distribution.  The organisation has received feedback that the hampers (mainly groceries) have been a significant help to the families that have benefitted. 18 families have benefitted so far this year and were also encouraged to start a kitchen garden in order to sustain their households.