Brings CPR training, digital access and wellness activities from November 2 to 8
By Andrea Hendricks
For Roxanne Hermanstyne-Johnson, the impulse to give back was nurtured in childhood. Now, the Guyana-born founder of Blueprint Foundation Inc. is preparing for another week of outreach, bringing CPR training, digital literacy, including computers, health education and a community wellness event to communities across Guyana from November 2 to 8.
Born and raised in Guyana, Johnson later migrated to the United States to reunite with her parents, who hailed from Victoria on the East Coast. She attended Stella Maris and Maes Under-12 for primary school and spent one year at St. Rose’s High before leaving the country.
Her strongest influence, however, came from a family tradition. Every Christmas, her father brought children with special needs to their home for a Christmas party. That early experience of caring for others left an indelible mark on Johnson and helped shape her commitment to serving underprivileged people in her home country.
“I grew up in a home where my mom was always giving, although we might not have had a lot. She always found a way to share what she had, even if it was a little,” Hermanstyne-Johnson recalled.
Those memories, she said, continued to guide her throughout her life and encouraged her to extend the same generosity to others.

Johnson’s call to action came when her aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer and shared her doctor’s report. Johnson urged her to seek treatment and care in the United States, at the hospital where Hermanstyne-Johnson worked at the time, rather than in Guyana.
“It felt like I was fortunate enough to have access to medical care and resources and the support of the family that many of the families in Guyana didn’t have,” Johnson said. Her aunt is now an eight-year cancer survivor.
As a birthday gift to herself, Johnson established her non-profit organisation in November 2018. Blueprint Foundation Inc., formerly known as the Benin Foundation, focuses on improving access to healthcare, education and resources for underprivileged communities in Guyana.
“It became my goal to bring the resources to the people most in need, especially those out of the city where help and support might be more challenging,” she told this publication. “I believe that I have a gift of influencing people positively.”
Hermanstyne-Johnson also brought together a team of friends who donated several computers as birthday gifts. She later transported and donated the computers as part of the foundation’s educational work, an effort she regards as a God-given extension of her vision to serve selflessly.
The foundation’s work includes continuing education in the medical field, particularly CPR training and refresher courses for local polyclinics in remote areas. Its team includes Red Cross-trained CPR certificate holders who provide the training free of charge.
One encounter at the Kwakwani Health Centre left a lasting impression on Hermanstyne-Johnson. A beneficiary told her that, had she been trained in CPR, she might have been able to save her brother’s life two weeks earlier. Johnson and her team hope to build on that impact through future mission work. The Oscar Joseph Regional Hospital in Charity also benefited from similar training during the 2025 outreach mission.
The Blueprint Foundation also runs a digital literacy programme, donating desktop computers to schools that need equipment for computer laboratories. In 2025, Beterverwagting (BV) Secondary would have received twelve computers for its lab. With a software engineer on the team, the foundation hopes to distribute another set of computers during the November 2–8 outreach mission.
The collaborative effort also supports healthcare professionals and patients by teaching them to monitor chronic illnesses, including diabetes and hypotension, to improve patient care at medical institutions that are usually overwhelmed on clinic days.
On Monday, November 2, an educational institution is expected to receive several brand-new computers as the foundation begins its donation drive. The visit will also include a CPR introduction for students.
Three health facilities are scheduled to receive support during the mission. On November 3, the team will visit Clonebrooke Clinic on the East Coast of Demerara. On November 4, it will visit West Demerara Regional Hospital on the West Coast, followed by Victoria Clinic and Market Square on November 5.
The on-site programme will include health education on chronic-condition care and support, nutrition and healthy living, women’s health and wellness, as well as health screenings and wellness checks.
The mission will close on November 8 with a 5K walk and family-oriented fun day designed to encourage movement and promote the health benefits of an active lifestyle.
“It is our fourth year of missions in Guyana, and every year it gets bigger,” Johnson said.
The event will feature a health booth with information for participants. Participants are encouraged to register online, with the 5K race expected to begin at 6 a.m. A live DJ and special musical guest artist, ‘Misstic’, will perform; face painting and a bouncy castle will add to the programme. Nostalgic games, including tug-of-war and lime-and-spoon, will also be played as the wellness fair continues into the evening.
“The goal of the day’s activities is to raise awareness about what wellness looks like and create movement for a healthy lifestyle,” Johnson added.
“Wellness is medicine,” she said.
In time, the Blueprint Foundation hopes to establish a physical wellness centre with an educational digital lab for people who need access to information. The vision also includes clinical services, physical therapy, mental health support, occupational therapy and a doula service for home maternity deliveries, including water births.
Johnson and her team are encouraging people with a vision for a better world and a willingness to give back to join the organisation.
“‘Be the change that we would like to see’ is the mission of our organisation,” Johnson said.
Hermanstyne-Johnson thanked her team, her supportive husband and all sponsors for their willingness to stand by the foundation’s work. Team members are coming together from South Korea, Hawaii and various states across the United States, united by a shared commitment to serving communities in Guyana.
The team includes Mrs Andrea Petrovanie-Green, Ms Corlene Dixon, Ms Dacia Dixon, Dr Robyn White, Mrs Tyneesha Owens, Ms Carla Thorson, Mrs Camille Hermanstyne and Mr Clyde Skeete.
“The team’s support behind the vision for the Blueprint Foundation is invaluable. Bringing that vision to life takes people who are equally committed to the work,” Johnson added.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the individuals who give their time, share their talents and travel from different parts of the world to help us make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. This mission has always been bigger than me, and I’m proud of what we continue to build together,” the founder and executive director told this publication.