Guyana means "Land of Many Waters" and refers to the complex network of pristine rivers that snake throughout the country. Discover untouched landscapes and legendary beauty in a place that isn’t on the map for most tourists. Guyana has an interesting mix of cultures with Amerindian cultures living in the interior and African and East Indian culture on the coast. While on project, you might be able to ride in a Bedford truck along remote Amazonian roads to get to a project in an Amerindian community. The Guyanese know how to unwind and you will surely experience "liming" or relaxing Guyana-style.

The YCA projects in Guyana mainly focus on the areas of: 

• HIV/AIDS awareness programs.
• Literacy and numeracy.
• Youth Skills, training and assistance.

YCA works with our Alliance partner Youth Challenge Guyana to target these issues. Youth Challenge Guyana is well recognized in Guyana and has received support to continue with HIV/AIDS programs. You will be given specific project location and information around one month before you depart. The projects will differ every time. 

• Volunteer in a remote, isolated and exotic location, where most travelers never set foot;
• Play an important role in raising HIV/AIDS awareness in Guyana, which has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS in South America;
• Sleep as the locals do – in a hammock!
• Work with diverse groups of community members including Afro-Guyanese, Indo-Guyanese and indigenous Amerindian; and 
• Experience the natural beauty of the ‘Land of Many Waters’, with its more than one thousand river systems and the longest single water drop in the world – Kaiteur Falls.

In recent years Guyana has steadily been developing economically. The country’s GDP increased by 5% in 2006 and continued to reach a 3% growth in 2008. President Jagdeo has given the country a huge boost by successfully having US$800 million of debt written off by the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and other nations.  However a multitude of social development challenges still face Guyana: rising crime, poor security, continued out-migration, the spectre of HIV/AIDS, and an uncertain political climate.

Development Statistics 

• Adult literacy rate: -
• Government spending on education: 8.5% (2002 – 2005)
• Life expectancy: 65.2 (2005)
• Mortality rate, under-5/Infant Mortality Rate per 1000: 63 (2005)
• Human development Index (HDI): 0.750, ranked 97^th out of 177 developed and developing countries.
• Gross Domestic Product (GDP): 4,508 (2005)
• Economy: Agriculture and mining are Guyana's most important economic activities with the following contributions to GDP – Agriculture: 34.7%, Industry: 32.5%, Services: 32.8%.
• Biggest Agricultural exports: Sugar, bauxite, rice, and gold.
• Gender Equality: According to the Human Development Report Guyana’s Gender-related development index value is 87.
• Population living below the national poverty line: -
• Population using improved water source: 83% (2004)

Country Overview

• Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela.
• Capital: Georgetown.
• Population: 772,298 (July 2009 est.)
• Religion: Hindu 28.4%, Pentecostal 16.9%, Roman Catholic 8.1%, Anglican 6.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 5%, Methodist 1.7%, Jehovah Witness 1.1%, other Christian 17.7%, Muslim 7.2%, other 4.3%, none 4.3% (2002 census).
• Languages: English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Urdu.
• Climate: Tropical; hot and humid moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to January).
• Government: Republic. Bharrat Jagdeo has been the president of Guyana since August 1999.
• Currency: The Guyanese dollar.