HAVING already conducted extensive charity works in various regions across Guyana, Backpack International Inc. (BPI), a US-based non-profit organisation, is back again – this time on its ninth mission to Lethem in the Rupununi to distribute school supplies and host educational and recreational activities for local children.
Oslyn Rodriguez is the founder and executive director of BPI, an organisation she started in 2016 with a global mission to equip students in need so that they can achieve overall academic success.
This time around, the 11-member team, consisting of nine volunteers from the USA and two from Guyana, is here in Guyana for the period July 4-15, having earlier this month shipped a 20-foot container filled with backpacks loaded with new shoes, school supplies, hygiene products, and reading books for over 200 children in Lethem and St. Ignatius Village. This shipment also includes medical scrubs for the dedicated staff at the Lethem Hospital.
“The mission aims to provide much-needed support and resources to the local communities, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to start the school year with confidence and dignity,” Rodriguez shared.
The mission’s activities will feature a Summer Sports Camp, offering soccer, flag football, volleyball, and dodgeball, alongside a Vacation Bible School, arts and crafts sessions, sports events, and meals. These activities, free of charge to the registered children, will be conducted in collaboration with Pastor Jennie Forde of Lethem Assembly of God and Ricardo and Regina Robertson of St. Ignatius Village, Region Nine.
Rodriguez emphasised the importance of the mission, noting, “I remember how excited I used to get going back-to-school shopping for new clothes, shoes, and school supplies. Some of our students don’t have that opportunity. I believe every child deserves the chance to enter the new school term with confidence. By providing these to students, it’s a small step in encouraging them in their educational journey.”

She said the support from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, as well as from Regional Chairman Brian Allicock, has been tremendous. “They facilitated clearance of the container from the port and coordinated transportation of the goods from Georgetown to Lethem,” she disclosed.
The team also met with representatives from the Lethem Regional Hospital to hand over hundreds of medical scrubs for the medical staff there and the local clinic in St. Ignatius.
Rodriguez returned to Guyana after being away for 14 years and wanted to offer her assistance anyhow she could. “I was really moved and wanted to do something to give back to the children of Guyana,” she said.
Being a certified English teacher with a passion for education, Rodriguez, who was born in Linden and grew up in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice), wants to be able to help children obtain the essentials of being successful at school. The goal, she shared, is to equip students with everything they need for school.
Some time ago, BPI assisted with transforming an underutilised community building in Annai Village, Region Nine, into a library. Students from the Sand Creek Middle School in New York donated over 12,000 books to support the library.
BPI and the South Colonie Central School District subsequently hosted a book parade to celebrate the philanthropic efforts of the students at Sand Creek Middle School. The Student Council launched a school-wide service project to collect 5,000 books to benefit the new library in Annai. The students quickly surpassed this goal and collected more than double the target number.