Next Step Guyana- a new youth network helping students navigate their future

Aug 10, 2025 Features / Columnists, News, Waterfalls Magazine

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By Shania Williams

Kaieteur News- When two ambitious young minds come together, impactful change can happen and that’s exactly what led to the creation of Next Step Guyana.

Recognizing the uncertainty many students face after completing secondary school, whether to attend university, join the workforce, or explore scholarships, Stanford University students, Joshua Gulab and Aniyah Couchman launched a virtual, student-led platform to help young people answer the pressing question: What comes next?

Officially launched in July 2025, Next Step Guyana is designed to guide students across the country as they navigate academic decisions, leadership opportunities, and career paths. Whether preparing for CSEC, CAPE, or university, applying for scholarships, or seeking leadership experiences like Youth Parliament or the Youth Ambassadors programme, the platform offers personalized support from mentors who’ve walked similar paths.

Speaking to The Waterfalls, Couchman along with Gulab explained that the platform includes a diverse group of young professionals, top-performing students, university graduates, and working professionals, who are committed to mentoring the next generation.

Through the Next Step Guyana website, students can sign up for virtual sessions based on their interests, and are matched with themed group discussions led by mentors who can best answer their questions.

“Our platform connects students with a network of youth mentors, including CSEC and CAPE top performers, valedictorians, lawyers, doctors, engineers, pilots, teachers, joint service members, and so much more,” Gulab said.

“Each mentor brings not just excellence but lived experience navigating the challenges of ambition, uncertainty and transition. At its core, Next Step Guyana aims to create Guyana’s first free online platform to enable access, build confidence and ensure that no student has to figure it all out alone.”

Gulab said the idea was born out of a realization that the best guidance often comes from someone just a few steps ahead. “We created the website to fill a gap we believe only near-peer mentorship can solve, getting real advice from real people who’ve just been where students presently are. Our goal is to build a society where every student, regardless of background can access honest and relatable guidance simply by having a device and curiosity,” she explained.

 

Both Gulab and Couchman bring stellar credentials to the project. Gulab, who serves as founder and director, was the 2023 Valedictorian of Queen’s College and attended Stanford University on a Presidential Scholarship. He was also the Caribbean’s second most outstanding CAPE candidate in 2023 and is alum of the U.S. Youth Ambassadors Programme. His technical experience allowed him to design and build the website from the ground up.

Couchman, co-founder and Mentorship Director, is equally accomplished. She was the Caribbean’s most outstanding CAPE candidate overall in 2024 and the top candidate in Natural Sciences. Also a Stanford Presidential Scholar, Couchman is a national chess player, FIDE Lead School Instructor, published poet, and Amerindian performer. She oversees the marketing and outreach efforts for the platform.

The Next Step Guyana team consists of 35 mentors, all born in Guyana, who guide students in areas such as CAPE and CSEC support, studying abroad, medicine, law, engineering, youth development programmes, business, finance, and professional development. Among the team are names like Aaliyah Ashby, Aaron St. Hill, Akeelah Andrew, Alisande Jaiserrisingh, Joshua Singh, Rea Harris, Uriel Isadore, Vinaya Chatterdeo, and many more, each contributing unique expertise and passion.

Gulab expressed excitement about the potential impact. “Our venture hopes to benefit every Guyanese student who is uncertain of what that next stage in life may be regarding their academic and professional journeys.

This can be from questions relating to what subjects to take at CSEC/ CAPE, how to manage your time, apply for scholarships and university in Guyana abroad to even getting feedback on your resume, linkedIn profile or how to apply for internships. Our aim is to normalize a culture of learning to ask for help and making reliable help readily available,” she said.

In its first week, the platform’s TikTok and Instagram pages received over 90,000 views and interactions, a promising start for what the founders hope will become a national hub. They plan to scale the platform by partnering with youth development organizations and sponsors, hosting scholarship information, internship portals, and even an annual career fair.

Students, parents, and educators can explore or sign up at nextstepgy.org.

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