ExxonMobil donates $15M to VYC’s STEM programme

ExxonMobil Guyana has continued its support for the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education afterschool programme being run by the Volunteer Youth Corps (VYC) by donating an additional $15 million to the programme.
This contribution will fund the afterschool programme until 2021. It is part of an ongoing cooperation between VYC and ExxonMobil to enable online programmes for children during COVID-related shutdowns. The Youth Corps is also seeking to transition to hands-on afterschool lessons once the country returns to normalcy.
The VYC organisation rose to the challenge of the pandemic-related shutdowns by connecting students online via ZOOM and other platforms, as well as by providing laptops and other devices to students who were not in possession of these resources.
Teachers, also, have been equipped to teach their classes online safely from their own homes.
Chief Executive Officer of the VYC, Goldie Scott, commented on the collaboration by saying, “Volunteer Youth Corps Inc anticipates the programme will still be able to achieve its objective to improve the skills and general educational competence of high school students through exciting and fun ways.”
Over 500 high school students from 11 different institutions, including the VYC Academy in Georgetown, will benefit from the programmes in the upcoming school year.
The Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs at ExxonMobil Guyana stated, “ExxonMobil Guyana is proud to partner with VYC to enable Guyanese students to keep up with their lessons during these challenging times.
“Educating our youth develops the leaders of tomorrow, and STEM plays a critical role.”
The Volunteer Youth Corps Inc is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation that is dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth through access to quality education and social services in Guyana.
Since 2012, ExxonMobil has contributed more than $74 million to the VYC’s STEM afterschool education programme.
Last year, the company made five discoveries of oil deposits offshore Guyana. These discoveries have pushed the total estimated recoverable barrels of oil equivalent to over six billion. In addition, Exxon will be moving ahead with its Liza phase two project, which will contain approximately 30 wells, after receiving the requisite approvals from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).