Recover Guyana, the Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI) and the Ministry of Education on Friday commissioned water purification systems at 19 public secondary schools and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions in Region Six, providing an estimated 9,602 students and educators with access to purified drinking water.
The systems are projected to generate approximately $103.7 million in savings on bottled water over three years and eliminate an estimated 5.7 million single-use plastic bottles during the same period. The intervention forms part of the national rollout of FLOW, GGI’s signature project and the National Water Purification and Sustainability Initiative.
The commissioning ceremony, held at New Amsterdam Secondary School, marks FLOW’s second regional rollout and expands the initiative’s reach across East Berbice-Corentyne. The rollout includes 17 secondary schools and two TVET institutions.
FLOW is being implemented through a partnership among Recover Guyana, GGI and the Ministry of Education. The four-year programme aims to provide access to purified drinking water to more than 58,000 students at 141 public secondary schools, 10 TVET institutions and four special needs schools by 2030. The initiative builds on the success of the pilot project at West Demerara Secondary School.
The water purification systems incorporate reverse osmosis, ultraviolet disinfection, solar power and smart monitoring technology, enabling schools to access purified drinking water while measuring reductions in plastic waste. The programme also supports science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education by providing students with exposure to water treatment, renewable energy and environmental monitoring technologies.
Dr. Dave Lalltoo, FLOW lead and president of Recover Guyana, said FLOW demonstrates how education can extend beyond the classroom and create lasting environmental impact.
“As we celebrate Education Month, perhaps the greatest lesson FLOW can offer is this: education becomes most powerful when knowledge becomes action. When a student chooses to refill instead of discard, understands the science behind the water they drink, appreciates the value of renewable energy, or takes a message about conservation home to their family, education has already travelled beyond the classroom. That is how we move from classrooms to communities.”
Dr. Lalltoo also highlighted the recent accreditation of the FLOW laboratory under the GYS 170:2021 standard by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, describing it as a significant milestone in strengthening water quality assurance, testing and public confidence in the initiative.
Alistair Routledge, President of ExxonMobil Guyana, said the project combines access to potable water with opportunities for learning and ownership.
“One of the reasons I particularly like the FLOW project is because it brings technology into schools. It is not just about the delivery of fresh, potable water; it is about giving schools and students something to own, feel responsible for, and understand—the technology that goes into providing that water. Ultimately, this is about investing in the future of the country and, most importantly, in our young people and their education.”
Honourable Sonia Parag, Minister of Education, said partnerships such as FLOW create meaningful benefits for students while supporting environmental stewardship.
“Good partnerships are important. Great partnerships are even more significant, especially when the benefits are for our children. This FLOW project, involving The Greater Guyana Initiative, Recover Guyana, ExxonMobil and the Ministry of Education, is a partnership that will benefit students and schools. It gives students the opportunity to take ownership and responsibility, understand the environment in which they live, and help promote and maintain a clean environment conducive to learning. The number of plastic bottles saved will make a difference to the cleanliness of our environment.”
The Region Six rollout has also created economic opportunities for local participation, with nearly 100 community members benefiting from project-related activities, including construction, plumbing, electrical works, solar installation, masonry, carpentry, welding and painting. The initiative demonstrates how investment in educational infrastructure can generate economic opportunities while strengthening local technical capacity.
With the completion of the Region Six rollout and the West Demerara Secondary School pilot, FLOW has now reached 35 sites nationwide, benefiting more than 18,000 people. In Region Six alone, the initiative prevented the use of 16,318 single-use plastic bottles within its first five days of operation.
By the end of 2026, an additional 22 sites are expected to be completed in Georgetown, including 18 secondary schools and two special needs institutions, building on the 11 Georgetown schools where systems have already been installed. FLOW is working toward a national target of reaching 155 educational institutions and preventing 25 million single-use plastic bottles by 2030.
The continued implementation of FLOW demonstrates the value of strategic partnerships in addressing immediate needs while generating long-term educational, environmental and economic benefits for communities across Guyana.
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