Last updated on Tuesday, 22 December 2020, 8:31 by Denis Chabrol
Three Guyanese youths have been selected to participate in the US State Department’s American Young Leaders Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program.
The American embassy in Georgetown said the program would bring together 263 young leaders from 37 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada for a virtual fellowship.
This year, three young leaders from Guyana have been accepted out of over 2,300 applicants, the embassy said.
Filisha Duke: Sure Gig’s Founder and CEO has experience in securing contracts and building key partnerships to further the company’s objectives. During the fellowship, Filisha aims to 
learn effective methods of managing and sustaining financial growth, strategies on increasing market share, brand awareness and sales, and how to facilitate scaling and expansion.
Joylyn John, Managing Director of Juneberry Gy has experience in leadership, the retail market, and extensive knowledge in business operations. During the fellowship, Joylyn John aims to learn the legal side of running a business locally and internationally, hone her leadership skills and “know how” when approaching investors with investment offers, and learn how to maximize returns his. business,
Maleka Russell, Owner of Green Valley Organics, has experience in insect and pest control, sheltered vegetable growing technologies, and climate-conscious agricultural practices. During the fellowship, Maleka aims to learn about business development, develop a business model for agricultural sustainability, and engage with other entrepreneurs as they promote healthy lifestyles through better nutrition.
The YLAI 2021 Fellowship Program, sponsored by the US State Department’s Office of Educational and Cultural Affairs, includes a three-month virtual fellowship from January to April 2021.
During this time, Fellows will complete the YLAI Entrepreneurial Leadership Curriculum and work with a host institution in the US for four weeks. They will also be paired with a designated mentor and will collaborate with other fellows to address shared foreign policy challenges throughout the exchange, the embassy said.
According to the US Embassy, they will participate in live events and cross-cultural activities. The program is a rich, collaborative experience that combines technical entrepreneurship training with leadership development and networking opportunities.
The YLAI Fellowship Program is part of the US’s ongoing commitment to the prosperity of Guyana and the region.
The https://ylai.state.gov/ website contains information about the YLAI Professional Fellowship Program and the YLAI Network.
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