Marissa Foster

RAISING awareness about social ills through poetry and social media are 17-year-old Marissa Foster’s ways of doing what she loves while making a difference in society.
The aspiring social worker of Rose Hall, Berbice uses her social media platform and literary pieces to address many topics, such as suicide, gender inequality, self-harm and mental illnesses.

She discovered her desire to be an advocate during her high school days at the New Amsterdam Multilateral School.
In Fourth Form, she joined the Humanities stream and it was then she developed a passion for the arts; she started to learn about social ills, how to do makeup and also began writing poetry.

Although Foster had an interest in helping people from a young age, she fully developed a liking for social work after returning to Guyana from the United States of America where she represented her home country as one of eight youth ambassadors through the Youth Ambassador Programme in 2016.

After the programme ended, the advocacy continued. Foster and the other youth ambassadors conducted an anti-suicide programme. Through the programme, there were workshops and sensitisation sessions at schools nationwide.

Subsequent to those sessions, she continued along the line of advocacy by doing short videos on her Instagram page and other social media platforms. In addition to the prevention of suicide, Foster advocated for gender equality and human rights.
In order to increase her knowledge and professionalism in the field of social work, Foster is pursuing a Degree in Social Work at the University of Guyana, Tain Campus.

Although she puts her studies first, the young advocate has found time to be the secretary of the Social Work Students Association of the university and also serves in the same position for the youth group of the St. Francis Roman Catholic Church.
“I aspire to become a professional social worker and to eventually gain a Master’s degree in social work. I’d also like to be involved in more programmes similar to that of the Youth Ambassadors programme; I want to volunteer and advocate on a larger scale than what I am currently doing,” said Foster.

She also intends to pursue her passion for the arts and acquire a professional makeup certificate one day.
But her dreams and aspirations do not end there, as Foster also wants to write and publish a poetry book, become a policymaker and start her own organisation that will be geared at helping youths.

On the topic of youth, the advocate encouraged young people to follow their dreams and do what they love despite what people say.
“Be yourself. In order for you to climb the ladder of life, you need to put in the necessary work and never give up, no matter what life throws your way. Always be careful with the friends that you keep in your circle and watch your own back,” Foster asserted.

The quote “our service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth” which was perfectly said by Mohammed Ali, is what she tries to live by, so she always strives to help others.