Young woman shares her experience as Toka’s youngest councillor

NOT many would put a 22-year-old in the seat of community councillor, but the village of Toka has done just that with its youngest-ever councillor, Alena De-Mendoca. Born and raised in the Rupununi village, Alena is passionate about her home. Specifically, she is determined to help pioneer new opportunities for the young people of the region. Still studying and diversifying her skills, Alena says attention needs to be paid to the youth of the area, and she is happy to take up the mantle as the next generation of leaders in the Rupununi and Guyana.

The community of Toka is a small, beautiful settlement in the North Rupununi District of Guyana. Home to just over 200 people, Toka has gained notoriety for its serenity and captivating savannah landscape. Historically, the village has survived on farming and small trade. However, the community is changing leadership. Alena is, to date, the youngest and only woman who sits on the council of her community.

She admits that there have been a few challenges, but she is happy to play the role she does. “I grew up in Toka. I was born and raised here. I went to Toka Nursery School and Toka Primary School. Then, later on, I furthered my studies at the Annai secondary school. I later furthered my studies in Georgetown and came back to Toka village to become a proud youth inspiring my peers and our way of living,” she said.

Alena says her village of Toka played a significant role in why she was inspired to become a leader. Her childhood, although filled with all the beauty of the Rupununi, also had its challenges. After studying in Annai, she returned to Toka, where the villagers saw her potential as someone who could introduce new, fresh ideas. “I’m now a young councillor in the village and the only female councillor in Toka. I’m 22 years old. It was a bit of a challenge taking up the role, but my village – the youths, the ladies, the women, the men, the elders in Toka – see me as a young potential leader. We, the youths, are the leaders for tomorrow,” she said.

Sitting as not only the youngest but also the only woman on the council, Alena strives to have her voice and opinions heard. She shared that in the beginning, there were a few challenges in getting used to her role, but over time, she has earned her spot and continues to leave her mark on the community. As she explained, “It is a bit challenging as a young councillor and the only female one. I felt a bit odd among the males, but as time goes on, it’s a great opportunity to learn and gain more knowledge and skills from the elders.” She further added that her role in Toka is filled with daily activities, saying, “Because of my interest in the youths, I’m always there as a role model, always taking part in activities. When they need help, I’m always there to call upon.”

But Alena has her eyes and inspirations set on the young people of the community. As a recent graduate from the Welding and Fabrication Programme of the Board of Industrial Training, Alena values the importance of knowledge and sees the education of young people, women in particular, as pivotal to the development of any community. “Some of the challenges affecting our youths in the community are that some of them never had a chance to go to secondary school or to finish school. The support from family, day-to-day basics of work – some families don’t have work and stuff like that to support their children in education and getting them involved in activities,” she said.

Alena is a champion for trade jobs. In a community where most of the economic activities are farming, trade, and cattle rearing, the introduction of new skills can greatly diversify the economy. This is why Alena undertook the Certificate in Welding and Fabrication. As she stated, “Some of the things that I would like to see in my community for youth development are to get youths engaged in training like mechanics, heavy-duty machinery operation, IT technicians, and such. A training centre in our village would be so nice because the youths don’t have anywhere to go and do these things.”

She further said the recent BIT training is a good place to start in educating more youths and pioneering new trades. “The BIT training programme was a great initiative and opportunity for the youths in Toka. Despite not having a lot of youths participate, those who did take up the opportunity, and I see it as great potential for them because they learned new skills and gained new knowledge in how to do things,” she said.

Although Alena has a vested interest in healthcare, she believes that young people should grasp any new opportunities that they may find. She urges the young men and women of her community to make use of their skills and to strive to step up to the plate, crafting a better standard of living for both themselves and their village. “These new trainees don’t just have certificates to style their walls. They have certificates to build a new life, to elevate themselves,” she said.