The achievements of a young youth activist

By Indrawattie Natram

AGE has never been a barrier or a hindrance for 26-year-old Devendra Persaud of La Union, Region Two, when it came to achieving his goals in life. Instead, he turned his energies into making a positive impact on the Region Two community. Persaud is currently the Bank Manager of Demerara Bank at Anna Regina. He has a Degree in Finance and is a certified Accounting Technician and an Anti-Money Laundering Certified Associate, but is also an active volunteer and advocate for youth empowerment.

ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Although his career path took a twist from what he actually wanted to become in life he is satisfied. During an interview with Pepperpot Magazine young and energetic Persaud said that as a child he always wanted to become a pilot, but as he grew older he started to lean towards a profession where he can give back to society. His thoughts were then on becoming a doctor but that immediately changed after he graduated from the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School (ARMS) in 2009. After his graduation from ARMS, he was confronted by several challenges which prevented him from pursuing his dreams in medicine.

Having achieved 15 subjects at CSEC, he opted to send applications to various agencies and organisations with the intention of getting a job. In November of 2009, he started his first job as a bank clerk at Demerara Bank. Nine years, later with dedication and commitment he was appointed as the bank’s Branch Manager.

His early education began at the Reliance Nursery School where he graduated as the best student. He then completed his Primary Education at the C.V. Nunes Primary School.
“These were tough times, many days I felt like giving up because the work was so much, when I landed in Grade Five, we had to go into school for 07:00hrs and we would leave school at 19:00hrs. Then I went home and would have loads of homework, going to bed till after 22:00hrs. At the end of it though, I didn’t regret it,” Persaud said.

After successfully completing his Secondary School Entrance Exam (SSEE) he gained a place at Queen’s College. He was among the Top 10 performers for Region Two, and in the Top 100 for Guyana. He then pursued his tertiary education online at the Florida International University and Penn Foster.

During his studies, Persaud was forced to end many friendships and to make his circle small, “Not everybody is a friend and not everyone will be ready to pick you up when you fall. Trust yourself and be confident with who you are,” he said.

CHALLENGES
Having achieved so much at a tender age Persaud said his biggest challenge was being told he was too young for certain positions.

“Did this hamper me? No. It motivated me to prove them wrong. And I did on every occasion. Through my personal achievements at a young age, I would have proven that our youths are not to be underestimated. We have ideas, we have potential but we just need the support. I am an advocate of youth empowerment,” Persaud further explained.

VOLUNTEERISM
At an early age, Persaud had developed a passion for selfless service and volunteering and in 2012, he became a member of the Lions Club of Essequibo Coast. During his time with the Lions, he held several Board positions, defying the odds, and creating history when he was elected to serve as the Club’s Youngest President in 2014 and was then re-elected to a second term. He was also appointed to several district-level positions, overseeing committees in Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago.

“I’ve never allowed my age to hinder my performance. I used it to my advantage, to turn my energy into making a positive impact. My time in the Lions organisation, however, was a struggle, being one of three young members in my club, at that time, it was difficult to get senior members to move away from traditional activities that have gone obsolete, to more major action-oriented activities that would have rippling effects. This stifled my performance and my zest to do more and I resigned in 2016,” Persaud explained.
His passion for humanitarian service did not end after his resignation, however. He moved on towards gathering a few young people and formed a youth humanitarian organisation known as the “The Climbers”, which is registered under the Friendly Societies Act of Guyana. Persaud currently serves as the club’s president. He is also a senior executive member of the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce.

ADVICE FOR YOUTHS
Using his life as an example to many youths, Persaud said that an education and determination is important for anyone to achieve their goals.

“Nothing in life comes easy. We must be prepared to work hard, make sacrifices and deal with criticisms if we want to succeed. Never give up hope, set goals and never lose sight of them. Not many will believe in your strength and your capabilities and I say this from experience, but continue to persevere and you will climb mountains. As a youth, use your energy and passion as your driving force to making a positive impact in your community,” Persaud said.

Persaud lives by the words of Helen Keller, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing”. He hopes of one day attaining his PhD and is also desirous of becoming a World Traveller.