Fundraising now: trip departs Summer 2027. Every dollar sends a girl home to Guyana.
Guyanese Girls Rock Foundation
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Young women of the Guyanese Girls Rock Foundation
Roots to Wings
Guyana 2027

Send 15 girls
home to Guyana

We're raising funds now for a 10-day cultural & leadership immersion in Guyana: Summer 2027. For most of these young women, it will be the first time meeting the land their families call home.

Donate to the JourneySee the Journey
Raised · Summer 2027 Journey
$2,315
Goal
$30,000
8% funded$27,685 to go
15
Young Women
10
Days · Guyana
2027
Departure
1st
Time Home
What
A cultural & leadership immersion
Where
Guyana: the land of many waters
When
Summer 2027 · 10 days
Who
15 young women of Guyanese heritage
The story

A journey a lifetime in the making.

Two young women in corsages making a heart shape with their hands

Many daughters of the Guyanese diaspora grow up on stories: of thundering waterfalls, of grandmothers' kitchens, of a homeland they've never touched. Roots to Wings changes that.

In Summer 2027, GGRF will send 15 teen girls on a 10-day immersion through Guyana: from Georgetown's colorful streets to Kaieteur Falls, from indigenous villages to elder-led storytelling circles.

Every dollar raised today directly funds their flights, lodging, meals, cultural programming, and the local guides who make it possible.

Identity
who she is
Leadership
who she becomes
Belonging
where she belongs
Discover Guyana

The land of many waters

From thundering waterfalls to sun-drenched savannahs, this is the tropical journey waiting for them.

Kaieteur Falls
Guyana
Kaieteur Falls

A single drop five times taller than Niagara: deep in pristine rainforest.

Amazon Rainforest
Guyana
Amazon Rainforest

Emerald canopies alive with scarlet macaws, howler monkeys, and jaguars.

Victoria Regia
Guyana
Victoria Regia

Guyana's national flower: a giant water lily blooming at sunrise.

Georgetown Markets
Guyana
Georgetown Markets

Palm-shaded streets alive with mangoes, music, and family they've never met.

Colorful colonial Georgetown street lined with palm trees
Georgetown

Wooden colonial streets, palm-shaded markets, and family they've never met.

The Journey

What they'll experience

Ten days woven with heritage, leadership, service, and sisterhood.

Cultural heritage experiences

Historical & national landmarks

Indigenous community experiences

Leadership workshops

Community service projects

Environmental exploration

Civic engagement

Elder storytelling & mentorship

Cultural performances

University & career exposure

Reflection & journaling

Lifelong sisterhood

The Photo Book

Moments across the years

Since 2018, the Young Women's Leadership Academy has been turning girls of Guyanese heritage into confident leaders. Workshops, service days, museum trips, scholarship luncheons, and quiet wins in between. This is what your generosity has already made possible, and why the Roots to Wings journey matters.

YWLA 2018: inspiring future leaders
YWLA 2018: inspiring future leaders
Scholars proudly holding their certificates
Scholars proudly holding their certificates
The cohort together in academy shirts
The cohort together in academy shirts
A movie outing together
A movie outing together
Celebrating an award with fellow scholars
Celebrating an award with fellow scholars
A cohort gathered at the library
A cohort gathered at the library
A scholar presents her vision board
A scholar presents her vision board
Art leadership workshop: the finished piece
Art leadership workshop: the finished piece
Painting a profile silhouette together
Painting a profile silhouette together
Setting up the shot at the whiteboard
Setting up the shot at the whiteboard
Filming with a ring light
Filming with a ring light
A media workshop in progress
A media workshop in progress
In front of a jet at the Intrepid
In front of a jet at the Intrepid
Exploring college options at an NYU counseling table
Exploring college options at an NYU counseling table
The cohort in their foundation tees
The cohort in their foundation tees
Celebrating heritage in traditional dress
Celebrating heritage in traditional dress
A day at Madame Tussauds
A day at Madame Tussauds
Community outreach, Guyana flag in hand
Community outreach, Guyana flag in hand
Workshop day with the cohort
Workshop day with the cohort
A group visit to city hall
A group visit to city hall
The cohort together in foundation tees
The cohort together in foundation tees
Scholars at the scholarship luncheon
Scholars at the scholarship luncheon
Dressed up for the scholarship luncheon
Dressed up for the scholarship luncheon
Celebrating together at the scholarship luncheon
Celebrating together at the scholarship luncheon
Hands-on clinical skills practice
Hands-on clinical skills practice
Practicing suturing on a training pad
Practicing suturing on a training pad
Working with clinical training kits
Working with clinical training kits
A suturing workshop in session
A suturing workshop in session
Volunteering at a community cleanup
Volunteering at a community cleanup
Visiting a local ice cream and bakery shop
Visiting a local ice cream and bakery shop
Learning how a small business runs
Learning how a small business runs
A gift of appreciation
A gift of appreciation
Browsing the library shelves
Browsing the library shelves
Accepting community award certificate
Accepting community award certificate
A fun photo with Darth Vader
A fun photo with Darth Vader
Meeting Senator Roxanne Persaud
Meeting Senator Roxanne Persaud
Aboard the Intrepid museum ship
Aboard the Intrepid museum ship
Food distribution with Queens Public Library
Food distribution with Queens Public Library
A group trip to Albany
A group trip to Albany
Staffing the resource fair table
Staffing the resource fair table
A visit to The Met
A visit to The Met
Tea with a royal figure at Madame Tussauds
Tea with a royal figure at Madame Tussauds
Posing with the gorilla exhibit
Posing with the gorilla exhibit
Packing food donations for neighbors
Packing food donations for neighbors
Scholars holding certificates at the scholarship luncheon
Scholars holding certificates at the scholarship luncheon
Mentors and scholars at the library
Mentors and scholars at the library
Meeting a legislator in Albany
Meeting a legislator in Albany
Sharing resources with the community
Sharing resources with the community
A food box giveaway
A food box giveaway
A day in the community garden
A day in the community garden
Volunteers with wrapped holiday gifts
Volunteers with wrapped holiday gifts
The group together in the community garden
The group together in the community garden
A gift bag for a local officer
A gift bag for a local officer
Celebrating with cake
Celebrating with cake
At the New York State Capitol
At the New York State Capitol
On the Capitol's grand staircase
On the Capitol's grand staircase
A day at the stables
A day at the stables
Gentle moments with the horses
Gentle moments with the horses
Dancers performing at the scholarship luncheon
Dancers performing at the scholarship luncheon
Gathered by the YWLA banner
Gathered by the YWLA banner
A day out on the waterfront
A day out on the waterfront
The cohort at the library
The cohort at the library
A workshop at Microsoft
A workshop at Microsoft
Learning tech skills at Microsoft
Learning tech skills at Microsoft
A personal branding session
A personal branding session
Gathered together at the library
Gathered together at the library
Inside the ABC7 Eyewitness News studio
Inside the ABC7 Eyewitness News studio
Vision boards in progress
Vision boards in progress
Learning together in classroom workshops
Learning together in classroom workshops
Mentorship in the classroom
Mentorship in the classroom
A lesson in session
A lesson in session
A scholar shares her My Year vision board
A scholar shares her My Year vision board
Cutting out words for a vision board
Cutting out words for a vision board
Building a vision board at Queens Library
Building a vision board at Queens Library
Teen Entrepreneur Toolbox kits, ready to hand out
Teen Entrepreneur Toolbox kits, ready to hand out
The group together after a classroom session
The group together after a classroom session
A workshop discussion on being a creative thinker
A workshop discussion on being a creative thinker
Scholars with foundation bags at the scholarship luncheon
Scholars with foundation bags at the scholarship luncheon
On the Intrepid flight deck by the Blue Angels jet
On the Intrepid flight deck by the Blue Angels jet
The cohort together at a celebration event
The cohort together at a celebration event
A conversation with a guest at the workshop table
A conversation with a guest at the workshop table
A scholar speaks beside a foundation presentation
A scholar speaks beside a foundation presentation
Sharing resources at the community outreach booth
Sharing resources at the community outreach booth
Learning to craft an elevator pitch
Learning to craft an elevator pitch
A pitch workshop in full swing at the library
A pitch workshop in full swing at the library
A scholar wearing her Guyana-colored academy stole
A scholar wearing her Guyana-colored academy stole
At the information desk of the New York State Capitol
At the information desk of the New York State Capitol
Gathered around the table at a foundation event
Gathered around the table at a foundation event
Two scholars present their vision board
Two scholars present their vision board
A scholar shares her Guyanese Girls Rock vision board
A scholar shares her Guyanese Girls Rock vision board
A workshop in session at the library
A workshop in session at the library
Eight scholars holding their painted tote bags
Eight scholars holding their painted tote bags
Listening to a speaker at the library
Listening to a speaker at the library
Behind the camera at a media workshop
Behind the camera at a media workshop
A workshop on resilience in the classroom
A workshop on resilience in the classroom
The cohort outside the senate chamber
The cohort outside the senate chamber
Gathered in Senator Persaud's office
Gathered in Senator Persaud's office
Working a studio camera at Live with Kelly and Ryan
Working a studio camera at Live with Kelly and Ryan
Crafting a keepsake with a mentor's help
Crafting a keepsake with a mentor's help
Mentor guidance during a hands-on activity
Mentor guidance during a hands-on activity
Building LinkedIn skills at a Microsoft DigiGirls session
Building LinkedIn skills at a Microsoft DigiGirls session
Game day at the Xbox One X display
Game day at the Xbox One X display
Young Women's Leadership Academy cohort at the library
Young Women's Leadership Academy cohort at the library
Watching a virtual speaker together
Watching a virtual speaker together
Ready for Project Hype
Ready for Project Hype
Finding her voice at the mic
Finding her voice at the mic
All smiles beside a giraffe figure
All smiles beside a giraffe figure
Visiting the Metropolitan Equestrian Team
Visiting the Metropolitan Equestrian Team
Grow with Google graduates
Grow with Google graduates
Meeting leaders at the State Capitol
Meeting leaders at the State Capitol
Exploring the Capitol exhibits
Exploring the Capitol exhibits
Celebrating together with cake
Celebrating together with cake
Holding up handmade cards of encouragement
Holding up handmade cards of encouragement
Leading a discussion at a YWLA workshop
Leading a discussion at a YWLA workshop
Workshop day: How are you signaling?
Workshop day: How are you signaling?
Mentors and volunteers in foundation tees
Mentors and volunteers in foundation tees
Scholars holding certificates at the scholarship luncheon
Scholars holding certificates at the scholarship luncheon
Smiles around the workshop table
Smiles around the workshop table
Building vision boards from magazines
Building vision boards from magazines
Dressed up for the scholarship luncheon
Dressed up for the scholarship luncheon
Learning with a guest speaker in the classroom
Learning with a guest speaker in the classroom
Meeting a guest at the library
Meeting a guest at the library
Laughter around the workshop table
Laughter around the workshop table
A foundation gift bag for a community officer
A foundation gift bag for a community officer
Tending tomatoes in the community garden
Tending tomatoes in the community garden
Community outreach with a foundation tote
Community outreach with a foundation tote
Garden volunteers in foundation tees
Garden volunteers in foundation tees
Celebrating certificates at the scholarship luncheon
Celebrating certificates at the scholarship luncheon
Striking a pose at Madame Tussauds
Striking a pose at Madame Tussauds
The cohort together in foundation tees
The cohort together in foundation tees
Stacking canned goods at a Queens Library food drive
Stacking canned goods at a Queens Library food drive
Sorting donations under the Queens Public Library tent
Sorting donations under the Queens Public Library tent
Treat bags ready at the foundation outreach table
Treat bags ready at the foundation outreach table
Hosting the foundation table at a fall event
Hosting the foundation table at a fall event
Foundation mugs and YWLA flyers on display
Foundation mugs and YWLA flyers on display
Mentors and scholars after a workshop
Mentors and scholars after a workshop
Volunteering at PS 243, The Weeksville School
Volunteering at PS 243, The Weeksville School
Learning from community partners at a resource fair
Learning from community partners at a resource fair
All dressed up for the scholarship luncheon
All dressed up for the scholarship luncheon
Proudly holding the Guyana flag with the foundation team
Proudly holding the Guyana flag with the foundation team
Crafting vision boards with stickers and letters
Crafting vision boards with stickers and letters
Mentors and scholars after a YWLA session
Mentors and scholars after a YWLA session
All smiles with a foundation tee and tote
All smiles with a foundation tee and tote
Meeting a special guest on an outing
Meeting a special guest on an outing
The cohort at Queens Public Library
The cohort at Queens Public Library
She Is Becoming: a scholar shares her vision
She Is Becoming: a scholar shares her vision
Celebrating together at the scholarship luncheon
Celebrating together at the scholarship luncheon
A conversation at the Carvel counter
A conversation at the Carvel counter
Learning together during a Carvel visit
Learning together during a Carvel visit
A mentor checks in with scholars at the meeting table
A mentor checks in with scholars at the meeting table
Sharing insights in the boardroom
Sharing insights in the boardroom
A guest physician speaks with scholars in the classroom
A guest physician speaks with scholars in the classroom
Scholars with certificates and bags at the scholarship luncheon
Scholars with certificates and bags at the scholarship luncheon
The group gathers with certificates at the scholarship luncheon
The group gathers with certificates at the scholarship luncheon
Mentors and scholars beside a waterfall display
Mentors and scholars beside a waterfall display
A scholar shares her mental health project
A scholar shares her mental health project
Presenting a collage about kindness and friendship
Presenting a collage about kindness and friendship
A scholar presents Guyanese Resilience
A scholar presents Guyanese Resilience
Sharing a jewelry business idea
Sharing a jewelry business idea
A scholar shares her personal vision collage
A scholar shares her personal vision collage
Presenting a project on vision boards and affirmations
Presenting a project on vision boards and affirmations
Sharing the Glow Up Girl Co. project
Sharing the Glow Up Girl Co. project
Presenting Sweet Sprinkles Cookie Kits
Presenting Sweet Sprinkles Cookie Kits
A conversation with scholars around the meeting table
A conversation with scholars around the meeting table
A guest speaker beside the Guyana flag
A guest speaker beside the Guyana flag
Learning to drape a sari together
Learning to drape a sari together
Sharing smiles during a sari workshop
Sharing smiles during a sari workshop
Sharing a cultural presentation in the meeting room
Sharing a cultural presentation in the meeting room
Scholars and mentors gather by the foundation banner after a networking workshop
Scholars and mentors gather by the foundation banner after a networking workshop

The next chapter is Guyana.

For the 10th anniversary, the tenth cohort will trace these roots all the way home. Your gift writes that chapter.

Donate to the Journey

Help a young woman discover where she comes from.

Your gift is more than a donation. It is an investment in identity, confidence, leadership, and the next generation of Guyanese changemakers.

Together, we can give these young women the opportunity to spread their wings by first understanding their roots.

Donate Now