Seven young Bermudian males aged 13 to 19 have returned home after an overseas service experience in Guyana that saw them transform classrooms at St. John Bosco Orphanage in Georgetown while confronting challenges designed to build teamwork, confidence and a stronger sense of purpose.
The Project Guyana: Built for Change initiative took place from August 12 to 22, 2026, and was fully funded by Bermuda’s Ministry of National Security through its Violence Reduction Team (VRT).
The participants — Keith Richardson, D’amori Riley-Noble, Daeshaun Landy, Khyari Tacklyn-Smith, Jakeeba Trott, Diondae Riley-Noble and Filiakai Camara — were accompanied by VRT officers Darren Woods and Cadre Smith, together with Donte Brangman of Clean Slate, who served as project contractor.
At the heart of the mission was a practical challenge: take classrooms in need of improvement and leave them better equipped for the children who use them.
The young men scraped and cleaned classrooms, carried out extensive painting, restored bookshelves and cabinets, reorganised learning spaces and improved outdoor entrance areas.
They also helped provide new desks and chairs, whiteboards, classroom equipment, school supplies and games for the children and staff.
But organisers said the physical transformation was only one part of the mission.
The young men were placed in an unfamiliar country and required to work together, solve problems and rely on one another. They also participated in social-emotional development activities, one-to-one discussions and group reflection sessions.
The VRT said the experience was designed to demonstrate that “Built for Change” was not simply the name of a project. It was intended to challenge the young men to recognise their own ability to change the direction of their lives.
Guyana as a Classroom
The initiative also created an opportunity for cultural exchange between Bermuda and Guyana.
The project received support from Rhonda Edwards-Adams, a Guyanese teacher at CedarBridge Academy in Bermuda, and her husband. The couple helped the group secure materials and resources and extended their hospitality during the young men’s stay.
Project Guyana builds on an earlier VRT overseas initiative in Malawi, where another group of young Bermudian men participated in community projects focused on teamwork, personal development and positive relationships.
The programme reflects the VRT’s broader effort to create structured opportunities for young men from different backgrounds to spend time together, work toward common goals and develop a stronger spirit of service.
‘You Have the Power to Choose’
The experience was formally recognised during a reflection ceremony on September 10 at Treehouse Bermuda in Hamilton, attended by families, friends and mentors.
Addressing the young men, Bermuda’s Minister of National Security, Senator Ryan Robinson Perinchief, said the experience had given them something that could not be taken away.
“You have seen another part of the world, carried real responsibility and done service for others in another environment that has caused you to reflect on your own lives and your place in Bermuda and in this world.”
He told them:
“It is not about where you are, but where you are going. Every day, you have the power to choose your direction.”
The minister said the government funded the trip because it believed in the participants and wanted them to understand that they were not navigating life’s challenges alone.
Changing the Narrative About Young Men
VRT Coordinator Bishop Leroy Bean said the programme was also about changing how society views young people.
“We have a tendency to focus on what our young people are doing wrong instead of celebrating what they are doing right. It is time to change that narrative and break that cycle.”
Bean said Bermuda must continue to invest in young people, celebrate their achievements and recognise their potential.
Woods and Smith said the experience revealed “resilience, growth and brotherhood” among the participants.
“These young men didn’t just build in Guyana; they also saw and showed us what they are capable of building within themselves.”
The renovated classrooms will remain as a tangible reminder of the young Bermudians’ contribution to St. John Bosco.
But the organisers hope the more important legacy will be carried back to Bermuda — in the form of greater confidence, stronger relationships, a sense of responsibility and a belief that change is possible.
Project Guyana therefore left Georgetown with more than freshly painted classrooms. It left behind a story of young people being given the opportunity to serve, learn and discover what they are capable of becoming.
