When Service Meets Purpose: U.S. Navy Nurses Volunteer in Guyana’s Rural Communities

Figure 1: CDR Carter, CAPT (Ret) Petrovanie-Green, LT Jackson

The Blueprint Foundation Inc., founded in 2018 by Roxanne Hermanstyne, is making groundbreaking progress toward breaking medical and educational barriers throughout Guyana. Roxanne, a native of Victoria Village in Guyana, witnessed the struggles her aunt faced while seeking access to care and decided at that moment to become a voice of change. Her father’s commitment to providing resources for children with disabilities reminded her that small acts of kindness can go a long way. Through the support of family, friends, and local community members, Roxanne was able to bring this vision to life through annual Medical Mission trips.

Figure 2: CDR Carter, LT Jackson conducting BLS Training at Beterverwagting Secondary School

CAPT (Ret) Andrea Petrovanie-Green, CDR Christina Carter, and LT Affeya Jackson were inspired by Roxanne’s vision to help others and volunteered with Blueprint Foundation Inc. during the November 2023 Guyana Medical Mission trip. Brought together by their common bond as U.S. Navy Nurses, they were able to use their diverse clinical experiences during the mission’s wellness health fair, community health drives, and local school trainings.

Figure 3: CAPT (Ret) Petrovanie-Green

The event kicked off with an invigorating 5K walk/run and Wellness Fair in collaboration with Stride 592, a locally based fitness organization. Over 150 community members participated in this event intended to promote health and wellness through physical activity and raise awareness of hypertension and heart health. “This was a great way to reach out to community members about the importance of checking their blood pressure, the risk of heart disease, and healthy lifestyle behaviors that can aid in disease prevention. With the support of Dr. Delroy Pyle (Ministry of Health in Guyana), we were able to provide immediate medical support and early intervention for those with critically high blood pressure levels. It was touching to witness the heartfelt gratitude and enthusiasm for positive change,” said CDR Carter, Public Health Nurse.

Figure 4: Linden Hospital BLS Class in the Emergency Department

The Community Health Drives at Kwakwani Hospital and Linden Hospital provided free primary care services, medication refills, mental health counseling, and laboratory screening. Kwakwani Hospital is located in a rural mining and lodging village in region 10 with a population of roughly 2,500 residents, and Linden Hospital is a 75-bed hospital that has been around since 1925. The team divided their time between teaching basic life support (BLS) classes for 50 staff members and providing free primary care services. CAPT (Ret) Petrovanie-Green said, “The opportunity to give back and the lessons learned was humbling and inspiring. Witnessing the expressions of gratitude and the genuine desire to improve oneself and others, I reflect on Dr. Maya Angelou’s quote: "People will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Figure 5: Volunteers and students at Kwakwani Secondary School.

At the local Beterverwagting and Kwakwani secondary schools, The Blueprint Foundation team introduced students to BLS skills and healthy lifestyle behaviors such as oral hygiene, tobacco cessation, and the value of eating a healthy diet. LT Affeya Jackson was really touched by one of the students who came up to hug her and stated, “I can’t believe you guys took the time to come all the way from America to help us. I feel so special.” The warm response from the community in Guyana was truly inspiring. The Blueprint Foundation’s efforts to support underserved communities with healthcare services are leaving a meaningful impact.

Figure 6: Dolphin Secondary School Students and Volunteers

As The Blueprint Foundation Inc. continues its mission to bridge healthcare and educational gaps in Guyana, we’re excited to announce our next Medical Mission Trip: November 2–10, 2025. With each journey, we grow stronger in our commitment to empower rural communities through compassion, collaboration, and care. We’re actively seeking healthcare professionals, students, and volunteers to join us in making a meaningful impact.

👉 Ready to serve? Sign up here or email us at info@blueprintfoundationinc.com to get involved, support our mission, or learn more about how you can help. Together, let’s turn service into purpose—one life, one village, and one mission at a time.