Youth empowered through “Green Entrepreneurship”

Mentors and beneficiaries of the training programme

Youth across Regions Two and Four are tapping into opportunities in “green entrepreneurship,” business development, and financial literacy, complemented by a structured post-training mentorship programme–with the launch of Recover Guyana ENGAGE 2.0.
This marks the second phase of its youth empowerment initiative focused on environmental sustainability and job readiness, which will see the distribution of $2 million in grant funding to support youth-led green enterprises.
Delivered in partnership with Scotiabank Guyana, ENGAGE 2.0 aims to equip young people with the skills, confidence, and resources to create sustainable livelihoods while contributing to a greener, more resilient, and prosperous national future.

Participants will benefit from hands-on training in managing businesses in eco-friendly technologies and sustainable agriculture, strengthening marketable skills in green sectors such as hydroponics, composting, recycling, and vertical farming, introducing sustainable environmental practices, and fostering community engagement and peer-to-peer support.
The initiative will be delivered in three phases, starting in January 2026 and culminating with a completion ceremony in June 2026.
It begins with a one-day refresher session for ENGAGE 1.0 participants, followed by a two-day training programme in Region Two and a three-day extensive Green Business Workshop in Region Four, covering East Bank Demerara, Georgetown, and the East Coast Demerara.
Delivering opening remarks at the launch, Dr. Omesh Balmacoon, First Vice President of Recover Guyana, said ENGAGE 2.0 is a critical step in realising Recover Guyana’s vision of a sustainable, prosperous future led by empowered youth.
“Through practical skills development, mentorship, funding support and community engagement, we are creating measurable impact by equipping young people to turn innovative green ideas into thriving businesses that benefit both their communities and the nation as a whole,” he noted.

Nafeeza Gaffoor, Country Manager, Scotiabank Guyana, said the programme transforms potential into progress. “Through this initiative, young people gain real-world skills, launch businesses, enhance their employability, and build the confidence to manage their finances and plan for brighter futures. Our partnership with Recover Guyana goes far beyond funding. Scotiabank employees actively share practical financial knowledge, provide mentorship, and guide participants as they navigate the exciting journeys ahead,” she related.
Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Bureau, Mohamed Ibrahim, pointed to the importance of the initiative for youth and the green economy.
“This project is a step in the right direction for businesses. Guyana’s future will not be shaped by policies alone, but by ideas formed in classrooms and workshops. It will be shaped by people who are ready to lead, innovate and act with purpose. This is why ENGAGE matters. It empowers young people to develop unique initiatives, new business ideas and innovative programmes that will help build a better Guyana,” he stressed.