Peace Corps Guyana Volunteers have chosen three outstanding individuals as recipients of the 2018 Counterpart Awards. The annual awards recognize dedication, public service and community leadership among the Volunteers’ community work partners in the health, education and environment sectors. The recipients are: Cindy Patterson, Assistant Mistress, Laluni Primary School, Region Four (Education sector); Samena Williams, Teacher, Albion Chapel Library and Skills Training Center, Region Six (Health sector) and Junior Park, Teacher, Bina Hill Institute, Region Nine (Environment sector).
The recipients are among eight Counterparts nominated by their assigned Peace Corps Volunteers for demonstrating an exceptional ability to foster collaboration, communication and cooperation among their colleagues and community members.
The recognition of Guyanese Counterparts is an effort to continue to develop strong working relationships among local communities, Peace Corps, and the Government of Guyana. A Counterpart acts as a mentor and partner to the Volunteer over the course of the Peace Corps Volunteer’s two years’ of service in Guyana. Whether they are co-workers, supervisors or community members, they are one of the most important elements in making the collaboration a success and ensuring that projects and ideas are carried forward, long after the Volunteer leaves.
Peace Corps extends its congratulations and sincere gratitude to the recipients and the other five nominees: June Stephen, Head Mistress, Friends Primary School, Region 6; Caroline Bury, Nurse at Bartica Regional Hospital, Region 7; Cindy Rangunandan: Teacher, 8th of May Secondary School, Region 2; Rafeena Haniff, GSAM/Assistant HM at Better Hope Primary School, Region 2; Natalie Goodman, Temporarily Volunteering as Junior Departmental Sister (aka Region-Wide Nurse-In-Charge), Mabaruma Regional Hospital, Region 1.
There are currently 60 Peace Corps Volunteers in Guyana, serving in the health, education and environment sectors in all regions of the country. The Peace Corps was first active in Guyana from 1966-1971. The agency later returned in 1995 upon the invitation of then President, Dr. Cheddi Jagan. Since its establishment, more than 800 American Peace Corps Volunteers have served the people of Guyana. The late U.S. President John F. Kennedy created the Peace Corps in March 1961 to provide human resource and technical assistance to developing countries that have requested such engagement.
The Peace Corps welcomes the opportunity to work with the people of Guyana and extends its gratitude to the Government and people of Guyana for their hospitality and for the opportunities they offer the Volunteers in working together to advance Guyana’s development aspirations.