SIX Guyanese youths, ages 15 to 18, as well as two programme mentors, will be representing Guyana in the U.S. Department of State’s sponsored Youth Ambassadors Programme from August 16 to 30, 2023.

Representing Guyana in this year’s exchange programme are Shonjay Mendonca, Naila Rahaman, Alyssa Persaud, Mya Saunders, Charisa Corbin, Carrian Perriera, and mentors Omario Gooding and Mellesia Lindie.

The in-person exchange brings together outstanding young people from across the Americas for an enriching programme to explore themes such as civic education, leadership, cross-cultural connections, community service, and youth and social transformation through experiential learning activities, leadership training, civic participation at the community level, and mentoring by community, business, and NGO leaders, and volunteering.

The youths were shortlisted from a large pool of applicants after going through an interview process. They join a cadre of 61 youth leaders and 11 adult mentors who have been part of the Youth Ambassadors Programme (YAP) since September 2012.