The U.S. Embassy yesterday announced the 2022 cohort from Guyana for the U.S. Department of State’s Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program.
A release from the embassy said that three persons were accepted from over 2000 applicants. The winning applicants are Akola Thompson, Jermaine Slater and Ulex Smith.
The release said that the 2022 programme will begin this month and close in July, bringing together 280 young leaders from 37 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada for a fellowship.
The release said that Thompson is gender-based violence specialist who leads a community of feminists in becoming stronger leaders in their homes and communities. The release said that Tamùkke Feminists provides information to women and girls on issues relevant to their social, economic, and mental development.
Slater is the owner of a tutoring service and a gaming business called Slaters Gaming. The company’s pilot card game is called Jus Drink, which is based on the Guyanese Creole language. The release said that the game provided entertainment and education for local Guyanese customers, and it brought back memories of times spent in Guyana for migrant customers.
Smith is the Founder of the Signature Move Marketing Agency and informs small businesses about the importance of brand awareness. The agency provides digital and social media services, sales and marketing strategies, simple corporate graphic designs, and more.
The YLAI Program will start with a virtual engagement with the Fellowship Curriculum and participation in the virtual Opening Orientation before departing for the United States for a four-week professional placement with their Host Organization. The programme concludes with a Closing Forum in Washington, D.C. in July.
