The U.S. Embassy yesterday announced the 2023 cohort from Guyana for the U.S. Department of State’s Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program.
Akeem McDonald works in the Business Services sector leading the Professional Janitorial Services. A release from the embassy said that during the programme McDonald hopes to build new relationships, network with people that share common interests, and learn about the operations of different systems and sectors. Coming into the YLAI Fellowship, his top business challenge is finance.
Onicak Hinds works in the Education sector at Step-by-Step Foundation, leading as a senior tutor to provide intervention services for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). During the programme, the release said that Hinds hopes to learn how to further establish and expand the Step by Step Foundation as well as increase the business’ impact in society. Coming into the YLAI Fellowship, her top business challenge is finance.
Pearlita Richardson is a creative designer who works in the Artisan Products sector, leading La Vie Guyana and carving a niche for ready-made clothing in the Guyanese fashion industry. During the programme, the release said that Richardson hopes to learn how to employ the right principles in the company and brand, hire the right people, and create the right products and environment to have a lasting positive impact on the lives of women. Coming into the YLAI Fellowship, her top business challenge is finance.
Shondell Rodrigues works in the Agriculture and Animal Care sector, leading Alana’s Fresh Organic Produce. The release said that Rodrigues is a kitchen
garden and small-scale vegetable farmer with six years of experience. During the programme Rodrigues hopes to learn about strengthening business and leadership from successful entrepreneurs to improve business ideas and contribute to her community’s economic development. Coming into the YLAI Fellowship, Shondell’s top business challenge is marketing and sales.
Launched in 2015, the release said that YLAI empowers emerging entrepreneurs from the Western Hemisphere to enable the full economic potential of the region’s citizens. This year’s YLAI fellowship program launched in December 2022 and will continue through June 2023, bringing together 280 young leaders from 37 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada. The four young leaders from Guyana were accepted out of over 1,800 applicants:
The release said that in May, fellows will split into cohorts and travel to 19 cities across the United States for four-week professional placements with U.S. businesses. They will collaborate with their peers to address shared business challenges, as well as engage in virtual and in-person events and cross-cultural activities.
The https://ylai.state.gov/ website includes information about the YLAI Fellows Program and the YLAI Network.
