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ANNEX: TOWARDS A PROPOSED GUYANA

 

Quest of Change Fund

A Concrete Framework for Moving Ahead

by

Dr. Laurence Clarke

 

  1. OBJECTIVES 
  • To mobilize voluntary support and resources for a non-partisan civilian program to catalyze durable change towards more inclusive governance for Guyana
  • On that basis, to facilitate and nurture a more propitious environment for enhanced educational development for the nation

 

  1. DOMICILE OF FUND: Queen's College of Guyana Alumni Association (NY) Inc in New York , in trust for voluntary contributors and well-wishers

 

  1. STRUCTURE OF FUND: A simple not –for -profit trust to be financed from voluntary contributions mobilized initially from:
Initially From
  • Chapters of Queen's College of Guyana Alumni Associations
  • Individual alumni and students of Queen's College

    • Later Possibly From
  • Other Guyanese High School Alumni Associations
  • Other well wishing Guyanese and other individuals and organizations

    •  

    1. EVOLUTION OF FUND: Aug 5, 2008 to August 4, 2009 - the 165 th year of the existence of Queen's College

    (With possibility of other Phases beyond that)

     

    1. FUND MANAGEMENT: Thru' a small credible and representative Committee of volunteer trustees revolving around , but not exclusively, QC Alumni Association (NY) Inc.

     

    1. INDICATIVE MOBILIZATION TARGET
      US$30,000- $50,000, funded from:
    • A seed contribution of US $5000
    • A matching contribution of say $5000 from each QC Alumni Assoc (Guyana, NY, UK, Toronto, Wash, Florida)
    • Internet-based and other contributions from individual alumni and other friends/well-wishers

     

    1. AGENDA OF LIKELY ACTIVITIES
      Could initially include funding/sponsorship for some or all, but by means not confined to, programs and activities emphasizing the merits and relevance of inclusive/shared governance to Guyana , such as:
    • Civilian/civic society town halls; symposia, colloquia ; debates etc;
    • Inter-school essay, literary and other competitions targeting the youth;
    • Mass campaigns of sensitization and promotion through bumper stickers(slogans); handbills; tee shirts ; tie-pins etc; pens, pencils;
    • Networking with Guyanese other civil society organizations in and out of the diaspora etc
    • Coordinating preparation / dissemination of technical background papers, analyses

     

    1. SEQUENCING/NEXT STEPS
    • Discuss and seek consensus in QC NY on basic Fund structure ,plan of action, an interim Agenda etc
    • Symbolic Launch of Fund with $5000 seed money , and perhaps matching $5000 from NY Chapter, ideally on August 5,2008 (start of 165 th year of QC)
    • Call for a specialized Forum among all QC Chapters -perhaps principal item on agenda at Florida ICQC or a dedicated session for this exclusively;