SEVERAL Headteachers across Guyana are appreciative of the help 33 newly deployed Peace Corps volunteers will provide in addressing pressing education, health and environmental needs in their communities.

On Wednesday, at their swearing-in ceremony hosted at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence, the Guyana Chronicle spoke to these teachers and some of the volunteers who were about to begin their two years of service.

Headteacher of Aishalton Primary in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) Jean Ng-A-Fook told the newspaper that the school which houses 206 students as well as the community will benefit greatly from the support.

“The Environmental Science volunteer we’ll be having will be teaching in the school for four days, Mondays to Thursdays from Grades three to six. On Fridays he will be working with village environmental club and he will be there to revive it,” she said.

She went on to explain that although most villagers care for their environment, the negative effects of mining are still a growing concern in the community.

“The people of Aishalton are mostly concerned about their environment but when it comes to mining they need to preserve their environment. The concern is that the waterways are being polluted. It is not that damaging right now but the people are looking towards the future, they want to take a more environmentally friendly approach to it,” Ng-A-Fook stated.

Meanwhile, Headteacher of Mackenzie High in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Haslyn Small said that the Peace Corps volunteer stationed at the school would be co-facilitating the Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) programme.

This, he added, would be paramount in teaching students how to cope with social issues, many of which currently affect young people in the region.

“We will benefit from the expertise of the volunteers not just in teaching and achieving our aims in the scheme of work and so forth but also in helping to alleviate some of the social ills in the school and in the region. [These include] mental health, teenage pregnancy, surges in HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases and all of those,” Small said.

The volunteer taking on this task is 23-year old Hana Gutierruz from Las Vegas, Nevada who told the newspaper why she decided to become a Peace Corps Volunteer.

“I’ve always had an interest in service since I was in high school and so I decided to join the Peace Corps because I had a major interest in community health work. I’ve done a lot of community health work at home in Las Vegas…and I saw the Peace Corps opportunity here in Guyana to do a simple form of outreach abroad and I jumped at the opportunity,” she said.

Prior to their interest in working in the country, several of the new Peace Corps Volunteers knew little about Guyana but are now excited about their opportunity to immerse themselves in a completely new culture.

“I had heard the name before in an article about Guyanese immigrants coming to the United States but I didn’t know where Guyana was,” Hana said, adding, “I think that it’s a beautiful country.”

She spoke further on her stay thus far with her host family stating: “They really took me in as one of their own and I feel like that’s kind of a hallmark of Guyana just being so friendly and kind.”

Meanwhile, coming all the way from Mashabo Primary in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) was the school’s Headteacher, Modi Beepat who said that 11 volunteers will be stationed in the region with one heading his way.

He told the newspaper that after a 30 years hiatus the school, for the first time, was able to attain a ‘List A’ Secondary School in the region following the success of two students at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examination.

Beepat hopes that with the help of the new Peace Corps Volunteer, 24-year old Grayson Manzi from New York City, the school can continue on this track and to even higher heights.

“With the boost of Mr. Grayson from the Peace Corps we’re hoping to continue the success at Mashabo Primary especially in the area of science because he’ll be working in science and after his first year of working there he’ll be starting a Wildlife Club,” Beepat said, adding:
“We really need to develop in environmental science. With persons cutting down trees causing deforestation and so on, Mr. Grayson will help a great deal not only at the school but at the community level to educate these persons in the area about the dangers of cutting down trees and about preserving our animals. These guys, [some community members] when they find a jaguar they would tend to kill it whereas we’re supposed to be preserving our flora and fauna so, I’m happy that we have him as a volunteer in our area to help with that.”

Grayson in turn, told the Guyana Chronicle that following his years of study on Environmental Studies, he thought that his next best option and where he could best apply his skills would be to volunteer.

In his aspiration statement in which he envisioned what his period of service would be like, he stated: “I will adapt to and respect their customs, holding onto the idea that I will be there to serve my host country, that it’s about them, and the more I become a part of them the more I’ll be able to contribute.”