Younica Sanchara

Younica Sanchara is a dynamic 20-year-old young woman with an undeniable passion for child rights, gender equality, mental health and youth advocacy. She has a drive to promote positive changes in society and an unrivaled ambition to create meaningful impact in the lives of many. Ms. Sanchara is also an entrepreneur, notably the co-owner, manager, and head supervisor of the educational institute ‘Unique’s Daycare, Preschool and Nursery School.  

Over the years, she has played a pivotal role in providing services and opportunities for both children and young adults in her community and country, some of which include free parental training seminars as well as conducting a 6-months caregiver workshop where competencies and teaching techniques were reinforced to caregivers around Guyana, to promote better care for children in early childhood facilities. Her acts of service for her country extends far beyond her personal work but can also be noted through her participation in youth focused initiatives, such as conducting a girls mental health program called “unboxed thoughts”, which focused on mentoring vulnerable youths faced with mental and emotional struggles at the Family Enhancement Unit of the MHSSS.  

Younica Sanchara completed her secondary education at The Bishops' High School. She went on to complete both level one and level two diplomas in early childhood education and has completed her degree at the Cyril Potter’s College of Education. Ms. Sanchara is also pursuing her ACCA degree in accounting and aims towards achieving a degree in social services.  

Alongside her role as an education professional, she is a leading Young Influencer with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, showcasing her dedication to nurturing the next generation. Passionate about social causes, Younica has volunteered extensively, participating in numerous projects focusing on youth mental health, anti-bullying, and gender equality development in Guyana. She has had the unique opportunity to be a part of advocacy and youth forums, where she assisted in the drafting of declarations for children's rights and environmental protection with UNICEF and the Rights of the Child Commission. Along her journey of advocacy, Younica has had the esteemed privilege of participating in Guyana’s 8th Annual Youth Parliament, honoring the role of Minister of Education, where she maximized her opportunity to advocate for the rights of children living with disabilities, their wellbeing, and their empowerment. Her commitment to using her voice for good can be demonstrated through her participation in the 68th Commission on the Status of Women United Nations Conference, where she represented the young influencers and her country on the international stage as a youth delegate. Through this experience, she was able to highlight our countries commitment to involving youths in governmental processes. Ms. Sanchara used this opportunity to support the fight for gender equality, stating that “Women are agents of change, and with prioritized focus on their protection, rights, and empowerment, a just and equitable society is guaranteed.” 

Younica identifies as a children's and women's rights advocate; because of this, she discovered pure joy and fulfillment in working closely with the children in state care during her time as a young influencer. This has led her and her peers to craft a mentorship initiative manual titled “The Mentore Buddy initiative," where each child in state care will be partnered with a mentor that will conduct workshops, activities, and discussions aimed at promoting inclusivity and kindness and empowering participants to stand against bullying and embrace diversity. For her hard work and dedication, Ms. Sanchara was awarded the Most Influential Award and the Jaguar Award for the most outstanding overall performance as a young influencer of the 2023-2024 cohort. She later went on to share her experiences on EDYOU Fm as a young profession on the radio segment called GenZ Vibes.  

Additional Ms. Sanchara was declared the winner of the British high commission “Day of the girl child” competition and served as the British high commissioner for a day in 2024. She continues to share participate and share her guidance with the youths of Guyana.