Guyana

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Stories from Guyana

Every Peace Corps Volunteer has a story to tell. Read stories from Volunteers about what it's like to live and work in Guyana.

1-20 of 26 results
Carey paddling a canoe
colorful houses on a hill side

Don’t expect Yanick Douyon – a three-time Peace Corps Response Volunteer and a two-time Virtual Service Participant – to slow down anytime soon.

JFK

As Peace Corps commemorated its 60th anniversary, a virtual panel discussion was held on March 3 with returned Volunteers who were personally impacted by President John F. Kennedy, who established the agency in 1961.

Ketover, middle with Ambassador Bill Taylor at a Ministry of Youth event.

Michael Ketover, Peace Corps Ukraine's country director, tells his story of service through photos.

Volunteer sitting displaying seven curry in lily leaf at local wedding

When I was younger, I loved hearing my grandparents’ memories of growing up in British Guiana. Those stories always made me nostalgic for a place I had never visited.

A female Volunteer stands smiling with her Guyanan coworkers inside of a health clinic.

I live in a small country called Guyana in South America, surrounded by Venezuela, Brazil and Suriname. My village is a Warau community—home to one of nine Amerindian tribes in Guyana—with about 1,600 people living in three areas.

Doug Hall

I was 14 when the Peace Corps was founded in 1961, but even then I knew I wanted to become a Volunteer sometime in my life.

Linford Marks, the Hub Technician in training, practicing his program skills at the computer hub.

Many people would label this era the Digital Age, a time characterized by innovation and design, set aside for the newest and the most up-to-date.

Doing a reading of “The Prince” after the class crafted crowns and started illustrating individual books to take home.

During the first three months of my 27 months of service, I trained with Peace Corps staff by day and lived with a host family in the evening. 

Guyana Speech and Hearing PCR

One, one dutty build dam!” said my friend, referring to her daunting task of moving and packing. Little by little, we will accomplish something big! 

Alyse Blackburn Guyana

What does it mean to be a Peace Corps Volunteer?

Gabriella Miyares library project

My school has 550 pupils, but no library. 

The Volunteer Dance

"There are three dances. The first one lasts about a year and you let the Guyanese lead you and tell you where to go. The second dance is at the one year mark and now you know the music better, you can start to share what you're passionate about. And the last dance is at about the year and half mark, six months before end of service, when you both start dancing together." - Rachel Rose, returned Peace Corps Volunteer

VIDEO: See what's possible in Guyana

"Being a Peace Corps Volunteer of color serving in Guyana, I tend to blend in. But when they find out a little bit more about me, they realize that there are different faces in America, and I am one of them." - Chiedum (“Chie”) Okei-Nwabuokei

Lori Karker deaf education Guyana

“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.”

Community pride starts with kids

I wasn’t even at my site when I first heard about Dartmouth Village, but people didn’t have many positive things to say. 

One teacher, one student, one family

My host family and I are very close and I have started to think of them as my family. 

VIDEO: A day in the life of a Guyanese girl

Life in Guyana through the eyes of a 14-year-old girl.

Guyana sunrise

"Miss Beth!"

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