United States Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot last evening urged Guyanese beneficiaries of US-sponsored exchange programmes to use their knowledge, experience and networks to improve their communities.
Speaking at an alumni reception hosted by the US Embassy at the Atlantic Suites Hotel, Hyatt Affiliated, Theriot said exchange programmes were more than educational opportunities and reflected the principle that investing in people could produce benefits for entire communities.
She said shared knowledge multiplies and the relationships built across borders could prove more enduring than government policies.
Theriot noted that this was the third year that the embassy had brought together members of its exchange alumni community. She said the programmes connected Guyanese not only with the United States but also with each other, creating links across generations, regions and professional fields.
The ambassador highlighted several initiatives undertaken by exchange alumni after returning to Guyana.
Among them was a wellness programme that delivered sessions on mental health, social wellness, sexual and reproductive health and self-expression. According to Theriot, more than 90% of the participants reported an improved understanding of the subjects addressed.
She also referred to Project Elevate, a four-week programme focusing on literacy, physical development and mental well-being among Grade Five pupils and their families. Theriot said the Ministry of Education’s Literacy Unit was sufficiently impressed with the initiative that it funded its continuation for another six months, with the possibility of wider implementation.
Theriot also announced the selection of two alumni for support for Democracy X, a civic educators’ fellowship being undertaken as part of activities marking the 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence.
She said the programme would train 100 teachers to deliver lessons on democratic principles and civic participation, with more than 2,500 students expected to benefit.
The ambassador also noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the Fulbright programme and the 10th anniversary of the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative.
Delivering remarks at the event, Dr Tariq Jagnarine, a recent Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow in Public Health Policy and Management at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, said participation in an exchange programme went beyond travel, study and professional development.
Jagnarine disclosed that he is no longer the Director of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat and has returned fully to the Georgetown Public Hospital now heading its Festival City Polyclinic
Reflecting on his time in the United States, he said participants were welcomed into American universities, institutions, workplaces, homes and communities, where they encountered new ideas and systems and met persons willing to share their knowledge.
He added that Guyanese participants also contributed their culture, perspectives, resilience and creativity to the exchange experience.
He said alumni returned to Guyana with broader perspectives, stronger professional networks and a responsibility to transform the opportunities they had received into service.
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