• Combining a love for education with the culinary arts

AT just 23 years old, Zishel Anthonia Williams thoughtfully intertwined two lifelong passions, education and the culinary arts, into a purposeful and inspiring life’s journey.

What began as childhood memories filled with the aromas of home-cooked meals and the joy of shared family recipes has evolved into a promising catering enterprise she established shortly after leaving high school.
A trained Home Economics educator, Williams graduated in 2023 from the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) with an associate degree in Home Economics.
She now serves as a full-time teacher at Westminster Secondary School in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), while simultaneously pursuing a bachelor’s degree in education at the University of Guyana (UG).
Her professional pathway, however, was shaped long before she entered a formal classroom.

Raised in a household where cooking was a cherished family ritual rather than a routine task, Williams grew up in an environment that nurtured creativity, discipline, and togetherness.
The kitchen was a space of learning and bonding, experiences that quietly laid the foundation for both her teaching career and her entrepreneurial ambitions.

Her mother, Ziska Williams, herself a Home Economics teacher and Headmistress of the Agricola Practical Instruction Centre, played a pivotal role in cultivating these interests.
From an early age, Zishel was encouraged to explore food preparation and understand the value of culinary competence.
After school, she often accompanied her mother to work, where she developed an early fascination with teaching.
She fondly recalls arranging empty desks after classes and persuading the cleaner’s daughter to act as her student as she “played school.”

While attending the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School, Williams pursued the Home Economics stream, where her interest in food and nutrition deepened significantly.
Despite her natural talent, she had never initially considered turning her culinary skills into a business venture.
It was family members and those who regularly enjoyed her meals who first recognised her gift and encouraged her to share it more widely.

Further inspiration came from observing her mother’s after-school Home Economics classes for school dropouts, conducted at their home to equip young people with marketable life skills.
This example helped Williams to view cooking not only as a passion, but also as a means of empowerment and enterprise.

In 2019, from her family’s residence at Lot 491 La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, she established Z’s Delights Catering Service.
What began as a modest home-based initiative has steadily grown into a respected catering service known for its quality, taste, and presentation.

Z’s Delights primarily caters to pre-orders during the week and is particularly popular for its Saturday lunch specials.
The menu includes cakes, pastries, cross buns, finger foods, desserts, natural fruit juices, traditional creole dishes, and seasonal snacks.
Breakfast specials are also offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Every item is prepared from ‘scratch,’ and Williams places great emphasis on freshness, portion size, presentation, and careful garnishing to ensure an appealing culinary experience.

Her decision to start the business was partly influenced by the limited availability of high-quality, readily accessible food options on the West Bank of Demerara.
Recognising this gap, she positioned her service to meet a genuine community need. Through strategic use of social media platforms and strong word-of-mouth recommendations, her customer base has continued to grow steadily.

Balancing her responsibilities as a full-time teacher, university student, and entrepreneur demands exceptional discipline and time management.
Williams attributes much of her success to the unwavering support of her family, including her father, Sheldon Williams, a Major in the Guyana National Reserve/Guyana Defence Force and Operations Officer at the Civil Defence Commission, along with her mother and her brothers Sheldon Jnr and Daniel, who frequently assist with the business.

“Running a catering service while being a teacher and attending classes at UG is by no means an easy feat,” she shared. “But I do it anyway because I do not believe in giving up easily.”

Her journey has required considerable sacrifice. Much of her limited free time is devoted either to her studies or to her business, as she believes idleness is not an option for a young entrepreneur with a vision.

Currently, Williams is further expanding her production system to automate a few aspects of her operations to meet the growing demand, which she is grateful for.
For her, this step, especially with the introduction of commercial equipment, will improve the efficiency of her kitchen, another practical step towards expanding her operations and enhancing productivity.

A firm advocate for food safety and quality, Williams remains committed to delivering products and services of the highest standards.
She believes that, as Guyana’s economy continues to expand through tourism, oil and gas, and other extractive industries, this is an ideal time for Guyanese entrepreneurs to invest and capitalise on emerging opportunities.

Looking ahead, she also intends to establish a cosy café at her La Parfaite Harmonie location, designed to embody the warmth of traditional Guyanese hospitality, while offering authentic local cuisine.
Over the longer term, she plans to explore the untapped potential of street food within the framework of gastronomy tourism by introducing branded food caravans in Region Three, all operated in strict adherence to established food- safety standards.

She takes pride in sourcing fresh, wholesome, local ingredients and maintains that hygienic food preparation, coupled with excellent customer service, are the hallmarks of her operations.
These planned initiatives, she believes, will create meaningful employment opportunities by recruiting and training graduates of the Carnegie School of Home Economics, thereby contributing to job creation and skills development within the community.

Zishel Anthonia Williams’ story is a testament to the influence of family, the value of practical education, disciplined time management, and the courage to transform passion into enterprise.
As she continues to inspire her students in the classroom and delight customers from her kitchen, she exemplifies the spirit of a new generation of Guyanese youth, skilled, determined, and unafraid to create their own opportunities.