Region Three Junior Chamber launches leadership training for first cohort

The Region Three Junior Chamber of Commerce has taken its first major step in youth leadership development, with 25 members participating in the Live2Lead 2025 leadership programme on Sunday, September 28.

The training, held at MJM Accounting and Management Institute in Crane Village, marked the first capacity-building initiative since the Junior Chamber’s launch earlier this month. Facilitated locally by leadership trainer Joshua Hammichand, the programme is part of the internationally recognised Live2Lead series, which equips young people with practical tools for decision-making, team-building, and personal growth.

“Training our youths to be leaders with integrity, grounded in good values, can only produce positive outcomes,” Hammichand told participants. “When we teach young people to lead with honesty, respect, and accountability, we are not just preparing them for individual success—we are preparing society for a brighter future where progress uplifts everyone.”

The Junior Chamber was established as a youth-focused division of the Essequibo Islands–West Demerara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (R3CCI) to prepare young people between the ages of 16 and 30 for leadership roles across Guyana’s evolving economy. Since its inception, the body has attracted 275 applicants, reflecting strong regional interest in youth entrepreneurship, civic responsibility, and leadership in business, agriculture, tourism, and community development.

By hosting its first cohort at Live2Lead, the Junior Chamber has begun delivering on its mandate to prepare Region Three’s next generation of leaders. Organisers noted that the training provides members with strategies that can be applied immediately to strengthen organisations and communities across the region.

The initiative comes amid rapid economic transformation in Guyana, with stakeholders highlighting the importance of equipping young people to take advantage of new opportunities and contribute meaningfully to development.

R3CCI extended appreciation to Hammichand and the MJM Accounting and Management Institute for supporting the training. Officials also confirmed that further capacity-building programmes are planned as the Junior Chamber expands its activities in the coming months.

The Junior Chamber’s leadership emphasised that the body will continue to focus on ensuring young people in Region Three have the skills and opportunities necessary to shape the region’s future.