Pomeroon-Supernaam, Guyana

Background Information
The Johanna Cecilia Secondary School (JCSS), located in the small village of Johanna Cecilia on the Essequibo Coast of Guyana, has a vibrant Agricultural Science Department dedicated to equipping students with essential skills for sustaining their livelihoods. Through hands-on education, the department fosters self-sufficiency and practical knowledge of agriculture. However, limited space and resources have restricted the program's ability to expand and fully serve the growing student interest in agriculture.

At the time, JCSS operated two small facilities:

• Greenhouse: For crop cultivation and learning sustainable agricultural practices.
• Chicken Pen: For hands-on experience in poultry rearing

Project Objectives
Green Dupatta Charitable Organization (GDCO) provided JCSS with expanded greenhouse and poultry facilities to support a sustainable, circular economy within the community. This project also aimed to build partnerships with the private sector to:

• Provide technical support
• Increase access to and education in organic farming practices

Expansion in Action
In April 2023, GDCO and JCSS initiated renovations to expand the school’s agriculture facilities, with all materials sourced locally. The labor for constructing the greenhouse and poultry facilities was generously provided by the Parents Teachers Association and the local community. This expansion is expected to more than triple the number of chickens raised and increase vegetable harvesting capacity by over 50%.

Building Together
GDCO supported JCSS on this expansion project due to their shared commitment to sustainable practices and community empowerment. Located away from the city’s resources, JCSS runs a self-sufficient, hands-on program that teaches students ethical agriculture and sustainability. Through this support, the expansion of JCSS’s poultry unit and greenhouse will provide both practical learning opportunities and a model for a circular economy, meeting the educational and agricultural needs of the community. These values strongly align with GDCO’s mission of sustainable education and economy. Proceeds from community events, such as an end-of-term BBQ luncheon, are reinvested into the program, funding the purchase of hatchlings and seedlings to sustain the initiative.