by Karen Abrams
STEMGuyana Director
Some people arrive quietly, do their work with excellence, and then leave behind footprints so deep that an organization can never quite be the same again. Today, I write about one of those people.
For the past four years, Alisha Koulen has served as Operations Manager of STEMGuyana. In that role, she managed the complex machinery that keeps a national organization moving. She oversaw STEM clubs, Learning Pods, camps, workshops, volunteers, partnerships, and the endless stream of details that accompany a mission determined to reach children in every corner of Guyana. Yet job titles often fail to capture what people truly contribute.
Alisha mastered the part of the role that I liked the least. She mastered connecting with people. She built relationships. She organized events. She welcomed visitors and supporters. She helped transform a small organization with ambitious dreams into a vast and growing global community of supporters, partners, donors, volunteers, and friends. Through her warmth, professionalism, and remarkable organizational ability, thousands of people came to know and believe in the work of STEMGuyana.
Her own story makes these achievements even more extraordinary. Alisha was raised in Sophia and has spoken openly about growing up in difficult circumstances, including years without electricity and limited access to technology. She attended North Georgetown Primary and later Brickdam Secondary before pursuing an undergraduate degree in Biology, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education, and eventually earning a Master’s degree in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development from the University of the West Indies. She became a teacher, a climate advocate, an international youth delegate at COP28, and one of Guyana’s leading young voices on education, technology, and climate action.
Now, another chapter awaits. Alisha will soon leave Guyana to pursue another master’s degree at Columbia University, one of the most prestigious institutions in the United States and indeed the world. I cannot think of a person more deserving of this opportunity.
But behind every remarkable young woman, there is often an equally remarkable mother. I remember saying to Alisha one day, “You have the talent to achieve great things. I bet your mom is proud of you.” Without hesitation she smiled and replied: “My mom is so proud of me. She believes I can do anything.” I have never forgotten those words. What a gift it is for a child to move through the world carrying the unshakable belief that someone sees greatness within them. Her achievements reflect not only her own determination and hard work, but also a mother’s devotion, sacrifice, encouragement, and unwavering faith. Sometimes the most important inheritance we can give our children is not money, property, or privilege. Sometimes it is simply the conviction that they are capable of extraordinary things.
If you take nothing else from Alisha’s story, understand this. Our young people are trying to overcome difficult odds. In Guyana, more than half of our students do not matriculate successfully. Thousands of our university graduates eventually leave our shores in search of greater opportunities. Too many women experience violence and abuse during their lifetimes. Too often, many young people come to believe that achievement is disconnected from merit and that hard work alone may not be enough.
And yet, every once in a while, someone like Alisha emerges. A young woman from humble beginnings who refused to let circumstances define her future. A young woman who prepared herself relentlessly. A young woman who proved that talent exists everywhere and that excellence can emerge from every village, every neighborhood, and every circumstance. This is precisely why STEMGuyana exists. This is why we prepare young people for every eventuality. This is why we teach communication, collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, and technological fluency.
These skills, when developed early and paired with educational achievement, make our children globally competitive. They prepare them not simply to survive in a rapidly changing twenty-first-century Guyana, but to lead in it and, when necessary, to compete anywhere in the world. Alisha’s journey reminds us that our children are capable of far more than we sometimes imagine.
Today, I ask you to join me in celebrating her. Celebrate her courage. Celebrate her discipline. Celebrate her achievements. Celebrate the mother who believed in her. Celebrate the teachers, mentors, and friends who encouraged her along the way. And most importantly, affirm success for her.
As Alisha prepares to embark upon this next chapter, we know that the financial burden of international education is substantial. Those who wish to support her journey are encouraged to reach out and contribute to her educational fund.
At STEMGuyana, we often say that our mission is to prepare globally competitive young people. Today, one of our own is stepping onto the global stage. Alisha, thank you for your service, your leadership, your friendship, and your unwavering commitment to the children of Guyana. Thank you for helping to build an organization that will continue to shape lives long after your departure.
We are sad to see you leave our daily work, but we are deeply happy to watch you go out into the world. Go boldly. Learn generously. Dream without limits. And remember that wherever life takes you, a little piece of STEMGuyana goes with you, just as a little piece of you will always remain with us.
The children whose lives you touched are your legacy. The future you helped build is your monument. And the best chapters of your story are still waiting to be written.