Stan at work in Guyana

If there are two things us Gen Yers hate it’s entry-level jobs and routine.  Demographical generalizations notwithstanding, there I was, 2 years into my entry-level job and falling into a routine.  There had to be something out there that was more engaging, something that I could get passionate about and be proud of my contribution to the world.  Luckily I work for a company that understands us Gen Yers, so they agreed to send me to do pro-bono work for six months in Guyana.

Where do I begin about Guyana?  I realize I’m a click away from becoming history in your web browser, so I’ll get to the point.  First, to clarify, it’s Guyana, not Ghana; Guyana = South America, Ghana = Africa.  Second, trust me when I tell you that Guyana is one of the most beautiful, but struggling countries in the world.  Guyana is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Amazon on the other; it’s brimming with natural resources and wildlife; it’s always 30 degrees and; the people are some of the most generous and kind I’ve ever met.  That said, in much of the country Guyana lacks basic infrastructure such as, roads; the education system is in a dire state; the political spectrum is ethnically divided; corruption is commonplace; AIDs is prevalent and; the emigration of people who manage to make it through these hardships is rampant.

During my time in Guyana I lived in a small town of a couple thousand people.  I worked for a relatively small NGO that provided supplementary education to the surrounding community through its three programs:

1. Vocational computer training
2. Children’s literacy education
3. Teaching sewing and crafts to local women’s groups

The organization was started by a Guyanese woman who immigrated to the US over 50 years ago.  30 years later she began to periodically return to teach sewing and crafts to other women in the area.  Over time, the organization grew and was eventually host to three well developed programs and thousands of beneficiaries.  Unfortunately, this growth was beyond its initial means and the management was not equipped to run an organization of this scale and complexity.  Over the next six months, the management, staff and I worked together to refine the organization’s strategic focus, find new revenue generating opportunities, and structure the organization so that it would be able to continue to grow and benefit the local community.

Now I’m back in Canada and it is in the hands of the organization to execute on these recommendations. I’m hopeful that I played a small role in helping this NGO and ultimately its beneficiaries.  Did I mention, I had a blast doing it.  During my time in Guyana, I was able to step outside of my bubble and meet some incredible people, travel to amazing places, learn about a new culture, and gain a new perspective on both myself and the world around me. 

Children from the village

This experience was my inspiration for getting involved with redseven.  I believe education is the backbone of any successful society, however, redseven is much more than just another non-profit supporting youth education.  redseven brings people of various backgrounds together, each playing a small role, but together making a big difference – and having a blast doing it.

I look forward to seeing you all at the imagine a world event on May 28th.

Stan