Prestin Fleming leaves for Guyana in August and returns in December. (submitted photo/Prestin Fleming)

By Derek Cornet

Travel Opportunity

Northerner headed to Guyana as part of Indigenous internship

Jun 18, 2019 | 4:01 PM

Prestin Fleming of La Ronge will be headed to South America in August for a four-month stay in Guyana.

It’s all part of an internship sponsored by the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation and other groups through funding by Global Affairs Canada. In all, 20 Indigenous youth from across the country were chosen to participate after being selected through a national competition. Fleming, who formerly lived in Stanley Mission, will work with the Volunteer Youth Corps Inc. on various projects to improve the quality of life for children and youth.

“With the Ministry of Education in Guyana, they have a program for career guidance for their students in 10 local schools,” Fleming said. “We’ll be assisting the teachers in that program already in place there.”

Fleming, 27, found out about the internship through his mother who encouraged him to apply for the opportunity. He said the application required applicants to be Indigenous, as well as couldn’t have yet obtained a university degree. Fleming will leave for Ottawa for pre-departure training in August, before travelling to Guyana where he’ll be based in Georgetown until December.

Although he has about a couple months until he leaves, Fleming noted the internship seems daunting and intimidating. He added, however, he’s passionate about travelling as he’s already been to Europe a couple times. Fleming is also eager to learn about the Indigenous Peoples in Guyana and learn the similarities and differences he shares with them.

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“I can’t wait to come back and share this experience with Indigenous youth and youth in La Ronge, and maybe spark some interest in travel,” he said. “Travelling is the great education to getting a real worldview.”

Guyana is one of the smallest countries in South America with an estimated population close to 780,000 people. English is the official language, but the vast majority of the population speaks Guyanese Creole.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno