—20 graduates receive funding as Recover Guyana, Scotiabank expand youth entrepreneurship and sustainability initiative

RECOVER GUYANA, in partnership with Scotiabank Guyana, hosted the graduation ceremony for the ENGAGE 2.0 Youth Entrepreneurship Programme on Saturday at the Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel, East Bank Demerara.
The ceremony celebrated the graduation of 110 young entrepreneurs from Regions Two and Four, marking another milestone in the national ENGAGE youth development initiative.
According to Recover Guyana, the programme has now empowered some 273 young people across the country, equipping them with training in green entrepreneurship, financial literacy, digital skills, environmental stewardship and workplace readiness.
As part of its ongoing commitment to youth empowerment and enterprise development, a total of $2 million in seed funding was awarded to 20 outstanding graduates whose business ideas demonstrated innovation, sustainability and long-term viability.
The successful completion of ENGAGE 2.0 highlights the value of strong partnerships in advancing youth empowerment, environmental sustainability and inclusive economic growth.
Through continued collaboration between Recover Guyana and Scotiabank Guyana, the programme is helping to build a new generation of entrepreneurs whose businesses and innovations are expected to contribute to Guyana’s long-term social, environmental and economic development.
Participants described ENGAGE 2.0 as a programme where meaningful growth and transformation took place, noting that the lessons and discussions were not taken lightly but were applied to both personal and professional development.
ENGAGE was conceptualised as part of Recover Guyana’s commitment to youth empowerment, education and environmental advocacy. The organisation created a space where participants were encouraged to think critically about both environmental sustainability and business development.
Recover Guyana built the programme around the belief that people are not waiting for solutions to be handed to them but are themselves capable of becoming the solution. ENGAGE 2.0 was designed to provide that belief with structure, guidance and community support.
Recover Guyana President and ENGAGE Project Lead, Dr Dave Lalltoo, described the milestone as a celebration of courage, resilience, innovation and possibility.

He commended the graduates for investing in themselves, challenging their thinking and embracing the opportunity to help shape a greener and more sustainable future for Guyana.
At Recover Guyana, he said, there is a firm belief that sustainability, economic development and opportunity must go hand in hand.
“Too often young people have ideas but lack access to mentorship, resources, confidence and opportunity. This is why ENGAGE was created, to bridge the gap and transform ambition into action. ENGAGE is a movement, shaping Guyana’s future by equipping young people with the tools, mindset, confidence and practical skills needed to lead in environmental sustainability and green entrepreneurship,” Dr. Lalltoo said.
He challenged participants not only to dream but to build.
“Dream boldly, build responsibly and remain disciplined. Continue leading with purpose. Guyana needs your ideas, Guyana needs your innovation, and Guyana needs your leadership,” he urged.
Scotiabank’s support for ENGAGE, Dr Lalltoo noted, represents a vote of confidence in both Recover Guyana’s vision and the potential of every participant who completed the programme.
Senior Manager for Finance at Scotiabank Guyana, Shellon Garner, reminded graduates that over the past month they had invested in themselves, expanded their skills and taken meaningful steps toward shaping their futures.
She described their accomplishment as a significant achievement.
Garner said that at Scotiabank, the institution believes long-term social and economic prosperity depends on empowering the next generation.
She explained that Scotiabank’s support for initiatives such as ENGAGE is guided by ScotiaRISE, the bank’s global social impact strategy focused on removing barriers to economic inclusion and creating more resilient communities.
Through ScotiaRISE, the bank invests in programmes that expand access to education, improve employability and strengthen financial inclusion because it believes opportunity should be accessible to all.
“When young people succeed, families are strengthened. Communities grow stronger and countries become more resilient. That belief continues to drive our partnership with Recover Guyana. Through Project ENGAGE, we have seen firsthand the transformative power of youth entrepreneurship and skills development,” Garner said.
She noted that since the programme’s inception, participants have gained practical, real-world skills, launched small businesses, improved their employability and strengthened their financial management capabilities.

Garner said the programme continues to demonstrate how targeted investment in youth can create lasting benefits for individuals, communities and the wider economy.