What inspires you?

Knowing that I can do my part to change the future and others are motivated by whatever small thing I do, learning about other cultures in other countries, listening to music and most of all that young people, community leaders are given a chance to make their visions, and actions come alive in a different ways, and that I can promote youth development and create opportunities, involve community members in developing skills, experience and confidence to effect positive change within communities in Guyana and around the Caribbean Community, also to show the world that people living with HIV/AIDS are people and can do amazing things and thats why I am inspired to take the lead in creating the right balance for Change.

Tell us about an issue that matters to you and how you became aware and involved.

HIV/AIDS is an issue that I have at heart, and I became aware and involved at the age of 16, volunteering with youth organizations that support people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA’s). I worked in many areas of peer education and counseling. I started experiencing what partnership means, and how important this is with HIV/AIDS. After this experience, I felt that there was much more work for me to do so I joined an NGO that was working with HIV/AIDS infected and affected Children, Youths and Family. Working with them was as great experience. Caring and supporting for people living with HIV/AIDS showed me a lot about life. As a Volunteer, it has given me, and continues to provide me, with a lot of experiences, opportunities and familiarity with diverse cultures which helps me function in Peer Educator & Counseling, Youth leader & Advocate.

Share your perspectives on what makes a good leader.

Leadership is the ability to lead, including inspiring and influencing others in a shared vision and to help achieve goals; good leadership means a number of things to different people and it could be controversial. A good leader should be transformative in everything they do. Optimistic, enthusiastic, open & honest, humble, empathetic and understanding, and also they must have a vision. Young people should be actively involved in leadership since they have the knowledge and experience to properly make interventions and the future is dependent on them for development and growth. People believe that leaders are born, that leaders learn form the exposure they get in the institutions in which they live and work in which I believe in both since leadership depends on the person. I always say that leaders actively shape themselves as they become aware of the challenges which they have to face on a regular basis.

Do you think TakingITGlobal can help you achieve some of your goals? Have we already? Please tell us how.

With my participation on TakingITGlobal, I was able to network with International Non-Governmental Organizations in executing projects within the Communities in Guyana in different ways. I embarked on new and innovative ideas coming out of the networks and partnerships, I became the national Focal Point in Guyana for Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS and work for Global Health Council. I did capacity building for Volunteer’s and Youths in the Rural communities, built their capacity to become transformative leaders. Promoted and implemented strategies that will reduce stigmatization and discrimination of People Living with HIV/AIDS. It helped in influencing leaders, including key policy makers and donors, to increase their commitments in different Sustainable Development Issues. Achieving of our Mission to sustainable youth and community programmes on a Non-partisan basis for youths through information technology and for them to develop Skills for entrepreneurial initiatives that maintains an environmental bottom line.