Marva Langevine is a dedicated educator and grief and trauma expert from West Coast Demerara (Region 3). She is a recipient of the prestigious Chevening Scholarship where she pursued her Master’s degree in Psychology of Mental Health at St Mary’s University in the United Kingdom. With over ten years of experience, Marva has committed herself to empowering children and advocating for underserved communities through her work with the Guyana Golden Lives Organisation (GGLO). This organisation provides essential support services for bereaved families, helping them navigate loss and fostering resilience within the community.
Marva has received numerous accolades, including but not limited to The Queen’s Young Leader Award(2018), CYRC 35 Under 35 (2023), 25 Influential Women Leaders Award(2021). These accolades speak volumes about Langevine’s work. She also served as a teacher for over 10 years. She holds, a bachelor’s degree in education (Spanish major).
Langevine’s compassion for grief support was ignited by the personal loss of her friend Mikiesha to cancer, which highlighted the significant gap in support services for bereaved individuals in Guyana.
This experience motivated her to establish GGLO, aimed at creating a safe space for families dealing with grief. Through her initiatives, such as Camp Golden and various training programmes, she has profoundly impacted the lives of many children and families.
Marva has committed to empowering children and advocating for underserved communities through her knowledge in multisensory teaching, foreign language education, and grief-informed care. As the founder of the Guyana Golden Lives Organisation (GGLO), she has worked diligently to support families dealing with loss and to foster positive change both locally and internationally.
Guyana Golden Lives Organisation (GGLO)
Marva Langevine is the founder of the Guyana Golden Lives Organisation (GGLO), a pioneering charity dedicated to supporting bereaved families and children in Guyana. Recognized for her humanitarian efforts, she received the Queen’s Young Leaders Award in 2018 and was awarded a Chevening Scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree in Psychology of Mental Health at St Mary’s University in the UK. Under her leadership, GGLO has provided essential support services, including financial assistance and psycho-social support for grieving families. Marva’s commitment to raising awareness about childhood bereavement has led her to host workshops and community outreach programs, emphasizing the importance of addressing grief in a culturally sensitive manner.
“My journey into grief support began after I experienced a significant personal loss when my friend Mikiesha succumbed to cancer, leaving behind two young sons. This heartbreaking experience revealed the profound effects of grief on children and families, highlighting a critical lack of support services for bereaved individuals in Guyana.
Observing the struggles these boys faced in coping with their loss ignited a passion within me to establish a support system for others in similar situations. This realization led to the creation of GGLO, aimed at providing comprehensive grief support services and a safe space for families navigating the complexities of loss,” Marva said.
Despite facing challenges such as cultural taboos surrounding death and limited resources, Marva has persevered by building strong networks and continuously enhancing her professional skills. Her work not only provides immediate support but also fosters resilience among children and families affected by loss.
As she continues her studies as a Chevening Scholar, Marva aims to expand GGLO’s reach and develop comprehensive grief support hubs across the Caribbean, ensuring that more families have access to the resources they need during difficult times.
Marva’s Journey with GGLO
Through GGLO, Langevine has had the honor of developing extensive support services for grieving children and their families. She initiated programs such as Camp Golden, created grief support training workshops, and launched awareness campaigns throughout Guyana.
“Each step of this journey has focused on building a vital resource that our community desperately needed, and witnessing its growth into an essential support system has been immensely rewarding,” she mentioned.
Challenges
One of the most significant challenges Marva faced was tackling the cultural taboos surrounding discussions about death in our community.
She added, “Additionally, limited resources and initial barriers to providing comprehensive support felt overwhelming at times.”
However, she addressed these challenges by investing in her professional development through education and training while building strong networks with stakeholders and professionals in the field. By fostering collaborative partnerships, she enhanced their support services, transforming each obstacle into an opportunity for growth that ultimately strengthened our ability to serve those in need.
Marva’s journey as a Chevening Scholar
Chevening Scholarships enable outstanding emerging leaders from all over the world to pursue one-year master’s degrees in the UK. Chevening offers fully funded scholarships to study for a master’s degree at a UK university to individuals with realistic and achievable ideas to create positive change. It is the United Kingdom Government’s flagship international scholarship program, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and partner organisations.
Marva said, “Becoming a Chevening Scholar has been one of the most transformative experiences of my professional life. Earning my Master’s degree in Psychology of Mental Health from St Mary’s University in the UK has significantly enriched my understanding and capacity in mental health, particularly in grief and trauma work.
This scholarship provided me with advanced insights into psychological principles and interventions, international exposure to best practices in mental health support, and an expanded professional network.”
As a Chevening Scholar, Langevine feels a deep sense of accomplishment knowing that her education directly enhances the quality of support services she offers through GGLO and her private initiatives.
As scholar, Marva is enhancing her expertise in mental health, which directly contributes to the quality of support services provided by GGLO. Langevine’s journey exemplifies resilience and dedication to community empowerment, inspiring others to advocate for change and support marginalised groups.
Marva as a Queen’s Young Leader
Launched in 2014, The Queen’s Young Leader Award recognizes and celebrates exceptional people aged 18-29 from across the Commonwealth, who are taking the lead in their communities and using their skills to transform lives.
In 2018, she was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Young Leaders Award, a recognition bestowed by Her Majesty the Queen, which highlights her commitment to community empowerment and advocacy.
The Queen’s Young Leaders Award provided Marva with bespoke learning opportunities, mentorship from global experts, and essential support to enhance her NGO’s capacity. Through GGLO, she has developed vital services that offer financial and psycho-social support to grieving families, job opportunities for widows, and food assistance for low-income households. Her initiatives, including awareness campaigns and programs like Camp Golden, aim to foster resilience among children coping with loss.
As she continues her advocacy through GGLO, Marva Langevine remains dedicated to expanding her organization’s reach and impact, aspiring to establish grief support hubs across the Caribbean. Her story exemplifies the transformative power of leadership and education in creating positive change within communities.
“To young individuals aspiring to make a difference, I always emphasize three key principles that have guided my journey: First, seek out a mentor who can provide guidance and support—this has been crucial for my own development. Second, adopt a learning mindset; and remain open to new knowledge and experiences. Lastly, prioritize your holistic well-being by caring for both your physical and mental health; these are the foundations upon which you will build your success. Remember that your journey is unique, and it’s perfectly fine to take your time finding your path while ensuring you take care of yourself along the way,” is Marva’s advice to young people.
