Carlotta’s Story: supporting children’s development

Carlotta John's daycare centre was born from a passion for children's development. The Road to Growth programme enabled her to secure funds & grow her business.

Date

2022

Location

Georgetown, Guyana

When you support a woman entrepreneur... you are automatically also supporting her immediate and extended family, the neighbourhood and ultimately the whole community.

Carlotta John, owner of Children R Us and Road to Growth participant

Carlotta John’s daycare centre was born from a passion for children’s development. The Road to Growth programme enabled her to secure funds & grow her business. Now, she knows the support she’s able to give is sure to see many children in Guyana flourish.

My name is Carlotta John, and I am the founder of a children’s daycare facility called Children R US. I decided to open the facility in 2019, after a long career as a technical analyst. A series of personal setbacks served as the catalyst for me to begin my entrepreneurial journey and fulfil my passion for working with children. Children R US started out with only two children, and now we have over 40 children in our care.

Carlotta John, a participant in the Road to Growth program, welcomes a student to her childcare centre

The Road to Growth programme is a fantastic source of knowledge and support.

The Road to Growth programme is a fantastic source of knowledge and support. My favourite part has been learning how to calculate financial projections, understand cash flow, and learn how to properly balance my books. The programme taught me the importance of keeping records and documenting everything.  

Women face many challenges in the business arena. My main challenge was getting a loan from the bank. I approached my mentors and coaches at the Road to Growth programme and they imparted valuable tips and encouragement. This gave me the necessary confidence, and I was subsequently granted a loan to start the second half of my project. 

child plays with clay at Children R Us in Guyana

What motivates me is getting up in the morning knowing that I get to work with children and that they're delighted to see me.

What motivates me is getting up in the morning knowing that I get to work with children and that they’re delighted to see me. It is a joy for me to witness their development. The lessons that they learn in my daycare will have ripple effects in their communities. I hope that when the children graduate from the nursery and go out into the world, they carry that same ethics with them and flourish. It is my ambition to expand my business into a different region and eventually grow into a household name. 

When you support a woman entrepreneur, you help to build her self-esteem and confidence. You are automatically also supporting her immediate and extended family, the neighbourhood and ultimately the whole community. The effects reverberate from the individual out into the world.”

Carlotta John holds child at daycare centre in Guyana

Made possible by...

Road to Growth in Guyana is supported by our partner ExxonMobil Foundation, and delivered with our partner ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc.