HELP AND SHELTER

Help & Shelter is a Guyanese organisation dedicated to the elimination of violence in all its forms. Their mission is to foster a society where attitudes and practices around violence are transformed, ensuring that women, children, youth, and men can live free from abuse, exploitation, and threats of harm. Recognising sexual, physical, and psychological abuse as violence, Help & Shelter combines advocacy, public education, counselling, and shelter provision to protect vulnerable individuals and strengthen community resilience.

Working with survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and other forms of violence, Help & Shelter provides safe spaces and supportive services, enabling individuals to access psychosocial support, legal aid, and emergency shelter. Their approach integrates community sensitisation, training for essential service providers, and empowerment programs that challenge harmful social norms while promoting equality and inclusion.

Through their Building Resilience Against Family and Community Violence Through Advocacy and Public Education project, Help & Shelter provides:

• Public Education & Awareness: Community workshops, sensitisation sessions, and information campaigns on domestic and gender-based violence (GBV), healthy relationships, and conflict resolution.
• Life Skills & Youth Empowerment: Programs to equip young people with critical thinking, decision-making, and social skills to navigate challenges and prevent violence.
• Lay Counselling & Capacity Building: Training for community members and essential service providers to provide psychosocial support to survivors of violence.
• Men & Boys Engagement: Initiatives to promote positive role modelling, behavioural change, and advocacy for non-violence among men and boys.
• Referral & Support Networks: Strengthened collaboration among local authorities, health services, law enforcement, and civil society to provide timely and coordinated assistance for survivors.

Help & Shelter’s work directly aligns with SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-Being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions). By providing education, advocacy, and direct support, the organisation empowers survivors, builds community resilience, and fosters systemic change to reduce violence and inequality.

The BB Energy Foundation is proud to partner with Help & Shelter in Guyana. Together, we are investing in initiatives that prevent violence, enhance psychosocial support, and strengthen community capacity—ensuring women, children, and youth can thrive in safe, equitable, and supportive environments.

Website: www.hands.org.gy