Thumbs Up for YCI

I volunteered with YCI in Guyana for three months, January to April 2012. Overall, I most definitely enjoyed myself – sure, there were ups and downs but that is the same for anywhere. There were many things I learned while I was at my placement in an Amerindian village. For example, I learned how to be around children and not run screaming from them. I also learned that I quite enjoy classroom teaching… for teenagers, that is. I still don’t like children THAT much! I’ve also experienced firsthand the difference between general volunteering and sustainable development work (my favorite adage is “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and he feeds himself for a lifetime). I also realized that small villages are just as bad/hilarious as a soap opera. And that you only really start to truly get to know a place, its hidden corners, and its people if you are there for more than a couple months. I discovered new reserves of patience and diplomacy as well as that there are spiders and there are SPIDERS. I learned how to teach people of a different culture and life experience as well as that you definitely cannot think that development work and social work are even remotely the same thing.

The work that I did for the three months included teaching literature at the high school (gr 7-9), working in the library, and giving workshops (study/test taking skills, dental hygiene, nutrition, water conservation). It was pretty incredible to be involved in all of these things and I definitely felt that I was able to contribute my knowledge and skills to my students and other people of the village.

In Guyana, you are technically not representing YCI – you are working for a local NGO called Youth Challenge Guyana (YCG). They are the one to organize you upon arrival, provide your food (but take advantage of the yummy local food!), your main point of contact in-country. The staff at YCI are an awesome bunch of people and they do an excellent job in guiding you through the pre-departure process of the project. As for the staff at YCG, I was not 100% happy with them but they were adequate. In the village itself, my group lived together in a house with a local staff member from YCG. While support exists, it really is up to each volunteer group to introduce themselves to the village, to sniff out projects, and all round figure out how to live for the next little while. Sounds daunting, but it definitely forces you to develop all sorts of skills such as adaptability and initiative.

YCI has an alumni program for new volunteers to take advantage of – pre-departure, you can ask them all sorts of questions. Alumni can give you firsthand knowledge and help you to prepare for your trip much more than YCI staff (based in Canada) can (staff can give you the basics and generalities but for the specifics, as an alumnus!). YCI also has many ways for alumni to stay involved with them upon your return home which is pretty great especially if you want to continue building your international development experience for your resume/school/etc.

All in all, great community, great country, tons to do (especially if you like nature), great project. I definitely recommend YCI and I most certainly will be returning to explore more of this great country!