THE Junior Chamber International (JCI) Guyana is celebrating a major milestone; 61 years of empowering young leaders and driving community impact, under the inspiring theme: “Fuel the Legacy, Accelerate the Impact.”
The week-long celebration, which runs from June 1 to June 7, features a series of events aimed at boosting public awareness, strengthening partnerships, and showcasing the organisation’s continued commitment to leadership development and volunteerism.

JCI Guyana, a non-profit youth-led organisation for individuals aged 18 to 40, is affiliated with JCI West Indies, and forms part of the global JCI network, which boasts more than 100,000 members across 120 countries. The organisation has been at the forefront of equipping young Guyanese with the skills and opportunities needed to create lasting positive change.

The 61st anniversary activities include a diverse lineup of initiatives that reflect JCI’s mission to serve communities and develop future leaders. These include: Thanksgiving church service and fellowship potluck; Community Impact Day – featuring hot meal distribution and a clothing drive; Brand Awareness and Visibility Campaign; Skills Development Day; Human Duties Day – including a blood drive at both the New Amsterdam Hospital and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC); Tree Planting Exercise and Fun Day; and Peace Walk – a symbolic gesture promoting unity and harmony.

In a brief address, JCI Guyana President Kenisha Lashley reflected on the organization’s legacy and its ongoing partnerships that have advanced community-focused projects. She cited collaborations with Banks DIH Limited and SBM Offshore for back-to-school initiatives in Dredge Creek on the Pomeroon River, and a recent partnership with Ramps Logistics to support a sustainable kitchen garden project at the F.E. Pollard Primary School.

Lashley made a heartfelt appeal to corporate sponsors and other stakeholders, urging them to support JCI Guyana’s vision for national development:
“If you want to create meaningful impact and development in our communities, we welcome your partnership. Together, we can achieve more,” she urged.
Joining the local celebrations was JCI West Indies National President Leycia Samuels, who praised JCI Guyana for its strong track record and regional impact.

“We’ve been making a difference across the Caribbean for 65 years—in places like Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and of course, Guyana,” Samuels said. She added that efforts are underway to expand JCI West Indies’ reach to St. Lucia, and St. Kitts and Nevis later this year.

Samuels also highlighted the transformative role JCI plays in shaping future leaders:
“Our members often say they got their foundation in JCI—and from there, they’ve gone on to become leaders in politics, religion, civil society, and business,” she said.

Founded more than a century ago, JCI continues its global mission of providing leadership development opportunities to young people, empowering them to be agents of change in their communities and beyond.