In 1966, the year Guyana gained its independence from Britain, Peace Corps received an invitation to send teachers, architects, engineers, and other professionals to help build the new country's capacity. From 1966–71, 138 Volunteers broadened the school curricula to include home economics, crafts, and manual arts; and assisted in developing and carrying out projects for the Ministry of Works and Hydraulics.
In March 1995, the Peace Corps officially returned to Guyana. The first Volunteers served with the ministries of Health and Education in 7 of the 10 administrative regions.
To date, more than 1,400 Volunteers have served in Guyana at sites ranging from the capital city of Georgetown, with a population of 300,000, to small, remote Indigenous villages with populations of 300 or fewer.
