a recognition she says comes from her commitment to helping Guyanese better access education and healthcare services. Hyles, born and raised at Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara (ECD) shared that the award recognised her work through Gears for Success, the non-profit organisation she founded in 2017 to improve educational access for children across Guyana. The Queen Elizabeth II Commonwealth Trust (QECT) established the 100 Young Leaders Awards to commemorate what would have been Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday, honouring young leaders across the Commonwealth for contributions in education, health, the environment, inclusion and other fields. “I think it is a representation of my dedication to Guyana and to the education space here in particular,” Hyles said in an interview with this publication. She credited her mentors like Asafa George and Linden Morrison for encouraging her work in public service and youth development.

She explained that the inspiration for Gears for Success came about during her time as a mentor at the Harvard Ed Portal in the United States, where she saw firsthand the educational resources available to students there and wanted Guyanese children to benefit from the same. So she began by consulting teachers and administrators at her former school, Vryheid’s Lust Primary School, to better understand their needs.

The organisation initially focused on providing mathematics supplies and establishing a library at the school before expanding into science summer camps and STEM-focused initiatives, and Hyles is now preparing for a national STEM fair called “Gears Innovation Week,” which is expected to bring together students from across Guyana later this year. She said the initiative aims to expose more students, particularly those in rural communities, to opportunities in STEM.

In addition to her non-profit work, Hyles is currently pursuing both a Doctor of Medicine and Master of Business Administration degree at Stanford University and is expected to complete the MBA programme in June before applying for a general surgery residency. She shared that combining medicine with business studies was a deliberate decision that stems from her interest in healthcare equity and expanding access to specialised surgical services for vulnerable populations. (Kaieteur News)