Guyana

Background
Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) School of Child & Youth Care (CYC) launched an experiential learning program in Guyana, inviting a select group of CYC students to conduct a comparative study of care services between Guyana and Ontario. Green Dupatta Charitable Organization (GDCO) joined as a community advocate to ensure the program was conducted ethically and respectfully, promoting a beneficial exchange for the local community. By bridging academic knowledge with practical experience, the partnership aimed to create a mutually beneficial exchange that honored the community’s values, knowledge and experience.

Program Goals
The GDCO and TMU partnership focused on ensuring that:

• Student inquiries were respectful and culturally sensitive
• Community members were protected from any potential risks of academic activities
• Observations and findings were accessible and valuable to all participating organizations
• Students prioritized learning through observation without offering critiques or solutions
• The collaboration was mutually beneficial for both students and the local community

Green Dupatta’s Role
GDCO played a crucial role as a community advocate, guiding the students in ethical and culturally responsive practices. GDCO’s contributions included:

• Delivering workshops to prepare students on ethical research methods and cultural practices
• Supporting TMU students in Guyana to ensure their inquiries were asset-based and aligned with community values
• Serving as a liaison with local organizations to foster a collaborative exchange that benefitted everyone involved

Impact and Benefits
The partnership between GDCO and TMU created significant benefits for both students and the Guyanese community. For students, it provided an opportunity to expand their perspectives beyond theoretical knowledge, deepening their understanding of ethical research and cultural sensitivity in a real-world setting and helping them become global citizens. For the Guyanese community, the partnership offered respectful, empowering engagement that prioritized local voices and values. This mutual respect enriched the experience on both sides, building trust and collaboration that can inspire future international partnerships.

Community Partners
The collaboration involved multiple community organizations, including:

• University of Guyana
• Amerindian Peoples Association
• Anira Consulting & Psychological Services
• Vaksana ADVP