Darshanie Nanhu, a 16-year-old student at the Bygeval Secondary School on the East Coast of Demerara, invented a mosquito repellent made of Katahar plant flowers for her SBA project. Darshanie remembered that parents would light the dried flower of the Katahar plant (commonly called Bambalayke) and the scent coming from it would keep the mosquitoes away. Darshanie enlisted the help of her classmate Dolly Sooknanan, 16, who completed her own project measuring the effect of salt on…
Guyanese-born Daphne Steele made headlines around the world when she became the UK’s first black hospital matron in 1964. For the time, Daphne’s achievement was nothing short of amazing. Former Deputy Director of Nursing at the Department of Health, Nola Ishmael, described Daphne as a ‘first’ who led with dignity and determination.“ She helped to shape aspirations for BME nurses across the profession who sought to follow in her footsteps.” Daphne was born in 1929…
Helen Taitt was the founder and director of the School of Guyana Ballet, which trained many of the teachers with the Guyana National School of Dance. Her dancing career spanned two decades from the 1950s to 1970s. Helen made the theatre her life-long career, performing, composing and teaching right up to the end of her life. She was Guyana’s best known, most accomplished and acclaimed professional dancer, and was also a choreographer, writer, dance instructor,…
This is a story depicting the author’s early life growing up Guyana, South America. The author reflects on her family’s origin and her adolescent years spent in Bengal and Plantation Highbury. She writes about her travel, studying and working in various countries and how she was able to cope with the adversity, and diversity of life. Throughout the book the author writes about the different places she called home and how it impacted her life….
SANDRA GRANGER (current First Lady of Guyana) Sandra Granger is the wife of Guyana’s current President, HE David Granger. Prior to becoming first lady, she served for 18 years as senior programme manager at the Caricom Secretariat. She was also a lecturer at the University of Guyana. She studied English Literature and Portuguese at the University of Guyana and Brazilian Literature at the University of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. First Lady Sandra Granger is an advocate for women’s and children’s rights in Guyana. DEOLATCHMEE RAMOTAR: (2011-2015) Deolatchmee Ramotar…
Today we celebrate all of the amazing, hard working, rock star women of the world! But let’s not stop today; we must continue to encourage, embrace and inspire each other as we travel through the daily paths of life. It’s also important to celebrate ourselves. Women are the strong backbone of their families and society and can create, influence and change lives, but we must invest in ourselves and celebrate our own victories as well.
Amy Barbour-James (named Caroline Amy Aileen Barbour-James) was a London-born Guyanese civil rights activist and civil servant. Barbour-James was born in London on 25 January 1906 to Guyanese parents, John and Caroline Barbour-James. They were a middle-class family who lived in west London in the early 20th century. Amy’s father, John Barbour-James, was a postmaster in Victoria-Belfield, in Guiana and was transferred to a post office off the Gold Coast (now: Ghana) in 1902. The family later relocated to London in 1905….
Throughout history, women have made significant contributions to society and have helped to build nations. In honor of Women’s History Month, GGR will feature some of the dynamic Guyanese women who have made history, and those who have made monumental, although often unacknowledged contributions to society. Do you know a woman who is worthy of being featured?
The famous author, poet and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou once said that “success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it”. As a young child growing up, always guiltily eavesdropping on elders kitchen-conversations, I often heard them say “Oh my goodness, work is so exhausting. I hate my job”. After hearing this on countless occasions, I decided that when I get older I will never pursue something that I…
Ngozi Muoneke is the CEO and Director of M3 Cosmetics Ltd, an іnnоvаtіvе соѕmеtісѕ mаnufасturеr based in East London, United Kingdom. Founded in 2008, M3 produces ԛuаlіtу Skіnсаrе, Hаіrсаrе, Pеrѕоnаl Cаrе, Nаіlсаrе, Mineral, Frаgrаnсеѕ аnd Colour Makeup. Ngozi was born in the UK to Guyanese parents. She spent part of her childhood in Guyana where she attended East Ruimveldt Primary School before returning to the UK. Her mother, Yvonne Beckles-Lamazon (deceased) was originally from Georgetown but spent most of her adult…