Guyanese invited by US to apply for 2027 YLAI Fellowship

The United States (US) Embassy in Georgetown has opened applications for the 2027 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Programme, offering Guyanese entrepreneurs an opportunity to participate in a skills-building and professional exchange programme in the US.
Applications opened on October 9 and will remain open until November 8, 2026. Interested persons can apply through the YLAI programme website.
Sponsored by the US Department of State, the YLAI Fellowship brings emerging leaders from 36 countries across Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada to the US.
The programme is scheduled to take place from June to July 2027, and will include skills-building workshops and exchanges with US counterparts. Fellows will have opportunities to strengthen their leadership and entrepreneurial skills while expanding their professional networks.
The programme is open to entrepreneurs between the ages of 25 and 35 who have successfully operated and grown their own business or social venture for at least two years.
Applicants must be citizens and current residents of Guyana.
For the 2027 programme, YLAI is particularly recruiting entrepreneurs working in areas including artificial intelligence, manufacturing, biotechnology, agricultural technology and supply chains.
Since its launch in 2015, the YLAI Fellowship has supported emerging entrepreneurs across the Western Hemisphere, with the programme focused on developing economic opportunities, promoting business models, increasing trade, encouraging job creation and building networks among entrepreneurs and business and social leaders.
The initiative has also connected participants from Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada and the United States through professional exchanges and partnerships.
According to the US Embassy, 33 Guyanese entrepreneurs have participated in the YLAI Fellowship to date.
Guyanese entrepreneurs interested in applying for the 2027 cohort can submit their applications between October 9 and November 8, 2026.