THE GIFT Foundation’s history

The aim of the Girls Innovating for Tomorrow (GIFT) Foundation, Inc., is to motivate teenage girls to recognize their intrinsic power and their collective ability to contribute to and benefit from an emerging resource-rich Guyana. Through the GIFT Scholarship Fund, it also aims to contribute to the tertiary education of as many as possible, with the hope that they see themselves as global citizens and that they use their intellect and talent to better their world. 

The GIFT Foundation has its genesis in an event called Tea for Ten, which was held in October 2017. Ten girls were chosen from Form Four Arts of the Bishops’ High School, to interact with several high achieving professional women, who freely shared their wealth of experience in the fields of law, psychiatry, diplomacy, and journalism.  

Over time, these young ladies formed a tightknit unit, which In April 2018 became the GIFT Group. Together they hosted a National Youth Symposium in July 2019, participated in Curl Fete 2019, challenged deeply entrenched institutional bullying through a positive messaging t-shirt initiative, and lent their support to several civic and community events. They did all of this while producing excellent academic results, encouraging each other through personal crises, and celebrating each other’s milestones.  

Today, Ms. Akelah George runs a catering business with her mother; Ms. Jemeicia Scott is an athlete attached to the Guyana Defence Force; four of the original ten members of the GIFT Group are currently attending the University of Guyana (Ms. Shania Baird and Ms. Shanique Grant will graduate with their Bachelors’ degrees this year, with intentions of pursuing their Master’s degrees shortly); Ms. Aliyah Anthony and Ms. Sade Moore are finishing their first year at Howard University and Grambling State University respectively; and Ms. Alliyah Culley and Ms. Jenise Hinds are slated to begin their tertiary education in the USA, September 2022. 

We are extremely proud of what our original members have accomplished in these few short years and hope you will join us in encouraging their and other young women’s academic endeavours through The Gift Scholarship Fund, as well as nurturing their talents. 

The Girls Innovation For Tomorrow (GIFT) Foundation was incorporated in June 2021. 

The Girls Innovating for Tomorrow (GIFT) Foundation, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. ALL funds received go towards tertiary education.