Mosley is making a difference in Guyana

GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Not many people in this remote South American country get a reception like the daughter of a Manassas Park woman. People paddle miles upriver, hike through overgrown jungle trails and pile into cramped, overcrowded buses to get to her.
The “her” is Shanell A. Mosley, daughter of Jacqueline Dominquez-Mays of Manassas Park, who recently spent time in Guyana as part of a nation-building and humanitarian exercise called New Horizons.
She and more than 200 service members provided such things as medical and dental care, built schools and other community facilities to aid the people of the poverty-stricken nation.
Mosley is a Department of State political and economic intern during the exercise.
“I am an intern for the political and economic office. I have also assisted the regional security office, front office, and consular sections during my time here,” said Mosley. “While being here, I have also assisted with Operation Southern Comfort, media tracking, and volunteering with the humanitarian projects.”
Celebrating 25 years of providing aid to underserved areas throughout Central and South America, New Horizons also gives service members a type of experience they would never receive back at their normal duty station. This year, the focus has been on building a new medical clinic in La Pentinence, a new schoolhouse in Bel Air, the renovation of another school in Timehri and eight medical readiness exercises throughout the region.
“I have gained experience with classified and unclassified documents; obtained hand on experience in topics relating to politics and economics; and taken part in several conversations and interactions to give me a better idea of what the foreign and civil service is like,” said Mosley, who graduated in 2006 from Narragansett Regional High School, Baldwinville, Mass., and attends Bentley University, Waltham, Mass.
“I have also gained international experience with Guyanese non-governmental organizations, nonprofits, and the private sector,” she added.
Amid the poverty, sickness and structural decay of the region lies one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Dense forests, with some of the most exotic plant and animal life, along with some of the most spectacular waterfalls
anywhere make Guyana a place where time seems to stand still.
“Guyana is the land of many waters. The people are of Afro and Indo decent. There is also a large Amerindian
population,” she said. “One of the major crops is sugar cane, and the run is very popular. The people are extremely helpful and nice.
Visiting a Peace Corps volunteer on the island of Wakenaam left a lasting impression on me. It was life changing to see how the locals live.
This experience has made me more grateful for everything that I have.”
While Mosley may not be asked for autographs, be followed by paparazzi, or noticed on a busy street, for hundreds of locals in the desolate jungles of Guyana, the help she and her fellow service members provided will be remembered for life.