Okay so backtracking a little bit to when I found out the details of my project back in May –

During my year overseas I’ll be living and working in the community of Paramakatoi, a large village in Region 8 of Guyana in the Pakaraima mountain range. It acts as the regional centre for the area even though there are no roads and is only accessible by foot (many days walk from neighbouring villages) or by plane (how I’ll get there from Georgetown). Paramakatoi is home to around 2000 people who are mainly of Amerindian descent. Consequently PK still holds traditional Guyanese values, which few Europeans have the opportunity to experience.

The school that I’ll be teaching in is a fairly well resourced secondary school which provides for the whole of Region 8 and is one of Guyana’s most remote. Very few qualified Guyanese teachers are prepared to live in an area so remote and therefore Project Trust volunteers are much needed. As there are no roads in the area, many pupils board during term time in hostels attached to the school and return home during school holidays.

I’ll be living with my project partner, Louise, in a little detached wooden house on stilts  where we’ll have cooking and bathroom facilities and 2 bedrooms. Our water comes from a rain butt outside but we’ll need to conserve this and also collect water from the local creek where we’ll also wash our clothes. The school generator supplies electricity to the house for a few hours each day in the early morning and one evening a week and there is internet available at a fee from one of the local shops (which means I should be able to update you guys vaguely regularly!). 

From looking at other blogs from past PK volunteers I’ve found out there’s a mango tree (if it’s still there!) just outside my door as well as watermelon plants. We’ll have to bring in a lot of our food from Georgetown at the start of term but there will be fresh vegetables and cassava bread that we’ll be able to purchase off of local farmers. 

From the sounds of it the village is very welcoming and I’m so looking forwards to just being able to immerse myself in Paramakatoi life! 

Can’t wait for liming in hammocks and playing dominoes and just being a part of such an amazing sounding community. And of course can’t wait to start teaching!

Ella