The Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI), in partnership with Recover Guyana and the Ministry of Education, has launched its signature project – FLOW – a National Water Purification and Sustainability Initiative for Secondary Schools. The launching took place at the Guyana Marriott Hotel on Wednesday.

The National Water Purification and Sustainability Initiative was designed by Recover Guyana with Queen’s College student Vasanna Persaud being the brainchild.

ExxonMobil Guyana Socioeconomic Manager, Lorna Carlson said Vasanna Persaud – the winner of Recover Guyana SHOUT 2023 – originally designed the environmentally friendly water purification system for her school.

“Vasanna’s vision sparked something greater. Recognizing the potential to reduce Guyana’s environmental footprint while improving students’ wellbeing, Recover Guyana proposed the establishment of the Water Purification System at West Demerara Secondary School. With support from GGI and the Ministry of Education, the pilot project was commissioned in March 2025, and the results were immediate. Within two months of commissioning, the West Demerara Water Purification System, the school eliminated the use of 10,000 single used plastic water bottle,” Carlson said.

Carlson said the success of the project signaled transformative change, and proved that small ideas when nurtured through collaborations can grow into national movement. Building on that success, Carlson said, the Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI) is once again pleased to collaborate with Recover Guyana and the Ministry of Education to implement project Flow across the country.

“By the end of 2029, this project would equip 141 secondary schools, 10 TVET institutions and four special needs schools across all 10 regions. And these will be sustainable systems with solar powered. Flow represents the kind of change we are proud to support,” ExxonMobil Socioeconomic Manager said.

She said the project is testament to the creativity of youth.

President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, said Project FLOW is aligned with the objectives of the Greater Guyana Initiative, which is a US$100M investment progrmme by the Stabroek Block co-venturers designed to build capacity in the area of sustainable development across Guyana.

Routledge said through the project, Guyana is once again demonstrating to the world how to balance development of resources with the preservation and conservation of the environment through STEM.

“STEM education is something that this project is also founded on but is absolutely fundamental to the future growth and prosperity of the country. The world is developing in technology, the world’s economies are growing on a technological basis and so, for Guyana to compete to have a sustainable economy for the future we need to grow the science, technology, education, math capability in the country. Continue to enhance the curriculum, gives more opportunity for students to be enthused about the possibilities, to be excited about what STEM education has to offer and what better to have a system like this in every secondary school to show what technology can do,” he said.

Co-founder and President of Recover Guyana, Dr Davindra Lalltoo said Guyana is demonstrating to the world how to grow responsibly.

“We are gathered to ignite a transformative effort – one that will touch the lives of more than 58,000 students, eliminate approximately 25 million plastic bottles, and align our country with the global call of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030,” he said.

Dr Lalltoo thanked the Greater Guyana Initiative and the Ministry of Education for buying into the initiative.

He said the project will provide thousands of children with daily access to purified, safe drinking water.

“The FLOW system combines Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Ultraviolet (UV) purification to guarantee the highest water quality. To be fully energy-efficient, every system will be solar powered, reducing energy costs and carbon emissions. In addition, regular quality assurance testing will be conducted by our laboratory which will be GYS 170 standard certified and in line with World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines.  The project will also be supported by the Guyana Water Inc through its Laboratory to guarantee that every drop of water accessed by students is safe and clean,” he explained.

He said FLOW will also see schools saving hundreds of thousands of dollars or possibly millions, adding that the resources can now be redirected toward other high-impact initiatives within schools.

Importantly, he said, FLOW will empower students through their environmental clubs to maintain and sustain the systems for years to come. By 2030, more than 1500 students and teachers will be trained in environmental sustainability through the project.

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