Difference between revisions of "Guyana NGO Sector"
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==Historical background of the nonprofit movement in Guyana== | ==Historical background of the nonprofit movement in Guyana== | ||
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The formation of non-profit organizations in Guyana is rooted in the country’s cultural and ethnic history. Guyana’s population is a mix of indigenous peoples and those descending from African slaves and indentured laborers. When slavery was abolished in 1838, indentured servants came primarily from India (but also from China and the Madeira Islands) and were employed until 1917 (USAID 2002, 31). Rice and sugar plantations, in colonial times, were primarily situated along the coast, which has resulted in higher population concentrations of Afro-Guyanese and Indo-Guyanese in the more crowded coastal areas, while the indigenous population has remained chiefly in the remote hinterland. The geographic divisions of ethnic groups in the country’s early history helped fuel ethnic divides that have persisted into modern times. | The formation of non-profit organizations in Guyana is rooted in the country’s cultural and ethnic history. Guyana’s population is a mix of indigenous peoples and those descending from African slaves and indentured laborers. When slavery was abolished in 1838, indentured servants came primarily from India (but also from China and the Madeira Islands) and were employed until 1917 (USAID 2002, 31). Rice and sugar plantations, in colonial times, were primarily situated along the coast, which has resulted in higher population concentrations of Afro-Guyanese and Indo-Guyanese in the more crowded coastal areas, while the indigenous population has remained chiefly in the remote hinterland. The geographic divisions of ethnic groups in the country’s early history helped fuel ethnic divides that have persisted into modern times. | ||
| − | The free laborers organized some of the earliest non-profit organizations (NPOs) in Guyana. Among the earliest groups were precursors to trade unions, associations formed to provide welfare in times of hardship (sickness or death) to their working class members (Canterbury 2005, 24). Other long-standing nonprofit organizations in coastal areas are churches, faith-based groups, agricultural associations, fishing cooperatives, and chambers of commerce. Some cooperative villages were also formed in the coastal areas. The villages met their own social development and infrastructure needs, such as road development, water, sanitation, health services, education, housing and recreation (Canterbury 2005, 29-30). In the interior rural indigenous communities, traditional cooperative living and working arrangements were prevalent and preceded the formalization of cooperative societies, the first NPOs in the hinterland. | + | The free laborers organized some of the earliest non-profit organizations (NPOs) in Guyana. Among the earliest groups were precursors to trade unions, associations formed to provide welfare in times of hardship (sickness or death) to their working class members (Canterbury 2005, 24). Other long-standing nonprofit organizations in coastal areas are churches, faith-based groups, agricultural associations, fishing cooperatives, and chambers of commerce. Some cooperative villages were also formed in the coastal areas. The villages met their own social development and infrastructure needs, such as road development, water, sanitation, health services, education, housing and recreation (Canterbury 2005, 29-30). In the interior rural indigenous communities, traditional cooperative living and working arrangements were prevalent and preceded the formalization of cooperative societies, the first NPOs in the hinterland. <membersonly> |
The 1930s and 1940s saw workers’ rights and women’s issues addressed in an organized way, leading to a growth in the number of trade unions and women’s organizations (Jackson and Jackson 1999). After 1955, when the first national political party split, civil society organizations began to be aligned strongly with one or the other of the two major political parties, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the People’s National Congress (PNC) (Jackson and Jackson 1999). Many of the nonprofit organizations, throughout the country’s history, have been established along particular ethnic, religious, social, and political lines, reflecting the venerable divisions within Guyanese society. | The 1930s and 1940s saw workers’ rights and women’s issues addressed in an organized way, leading to a growth in the number of trade unions and women’s organizations (Jackson and Jackson 1999). After 1955, when the first national political party split, civil society organizations began to be aligned strongly with one or the other of the two major political parties, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the People’s National Congress (PNC) (Jackson and Jackson 1999). Many of the nonprofit organizations, throughout the country’s history, have been established along particular ethnic, religious, social, and political lines, reflecting the venerable divisions within Guyanese society. | ||
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As a heavily indebted country pursuing structural adjustment, Guyana has received considerable support from donor agencies, which are providing increased support to civil society organizations (Jackson and Jackson 1999). Many donor agencies working in Guyana have focused efforts on governance and public reform issues. USAID has supported the growth of non-governmental organizations and has focused on youth organizations, HIV/AIDS programs and on Amerindian and women’s organizations—two groups that have historically been excluded from political participation (USAID 2003). Other donor agency efforts, such as through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and UNICEF, have focused on strengthening collaboration between NGOs and government and on capacity building and training (UNDP 2005, 37). However, the wide range of organizations complicates efforts to improve collaboration and networking. | As a heavily indebted country pursuing structural adjustment, Guyana has received considerable support from donor agencies, which are providing increased support to civil society organizations (Jackson and Jackson 1999). Many donor agencies working in Guyana have focused efforts on governance and public reform issues. USAID has supported the growth of non-governmental organizations and has focused on youth organizations, HIV/AIDS programs and on Amerindian and women’s organizations—two groups that have historically been excluded from political participation (USAID 2003). Other donor agency efforts, such as through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and UNICEF, have focused on strengthening collaboration between NGOs and government and on capacity building and training (UNDP 2005, 37). However, the wide range of organizations complicates efforts to improve collaboration and networking. | ||
| − | The NGO Forum (supported by the Carter Center) was established to support NGOs, and to encourage cooperation among organizations. The NGO Forum initiated exploration into the creation of legislation regarding NGOs, but this process has stalled due to lack of resources and strategic planning (Zaleski 2006, 7). At its conception, the NGO Forum sought legislation that would allow tax-exempt status, duty concessions, tax-deductible donations from the private sector and the creation of grant-making foundations for NGOs (SDNP website). The Forum is currently inactive and its objectives have not been achieved. | + | The NGO Forum (supported by the Carter Center) was established to support NGOs, and to encourage cooperation among organizations. The NGO Forum initiated exploration into the creation of legislation regarding NGOs, but this process has stalled due to lack of resources and strategic planning (Zaleski 2006, 7). At its conception, the NGO Forum sought legislation that would allow tax-exempt status, duty concessions, tax-deductible donations from the private sector and the creation of grant-making foundations for NGOs (SDNP website). The Forum is currently inactive and its objectives have not been achieved. |
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==Types and numbers of nonprofit organizations in Guyana== | ==Types and numbers of nonprofit organizations in Guyana== | ||
Latest revision as of 08:18, 17 July 2008
Contents
Historical background of the nonprofit movement in Guyana
The formation of non-profit organizations in Guyana is rooted in the country’s cultural and ethnic history. Guyana’s population is a mix of indigenous peoples and those descending from African slaves and indentured laborers. When slavery was abolished in 1838, indentured servants came primarily from India (but also from China and the Madeira Islands) and were employed until 1917 (USAID 2002, 31). Rice and sugar plantations, in colonial times, were primarily situated along the coast, which has resulted in higher population concentrations of Afro-Guyanese and Indo-Guyanese in the more crowded coastal areas, while the indigenous population has remained chiefly in the remote hinterland. The geographic divisions of ethnic groups in the country’s early history helped fuel ethnic divides that have persisted into modern times.
The free laborers organized some of the earliest non-profit organizations (NPOs) in Guyana. Among the earliest groups were precursors to trade unions, associations formed to provide welfare in times of hardship (sickness or death) to their working class members (Canterbury 2005, 24). Other long-standing nonprofit organizations in coastal areas are churches, faith-based groups, agricultural associations, fishing cooperatives, and chambers of commerce. Some cooperative villages were also formed in the coastal areas. The villages met their own social development and infrastructure needs, such as road development, water, sanitation, health services, education, housing and recreation (Canterbury 2005, 29-30). In the interior rural indigenous communities, traditional cooperative living and working arrangements were prevalent and preceded the formalization of cooperative societies, the first NPOs in the hinterland.
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