On Sunday, September 25, the EMC Foundation, in partnership with the Herdmanston Lodge, held a paint mixer to raise awareness of Guyana’s unique ecosystems and their vital role in supporting biodiversity.
The Foundation, established by Shyam Nokta, winner of the 2022 Anthony N Sabga Award for Entrepreneurship, aims to support environmental awareness and education in Guyana by promoting activities which encourage greater understanding of the environment, create a network to connect like-minded people and provide opportunities to experience Guyana’s rich natural environment.
In brief comments, Mr. Shyam Nokta said, “A picture paints a thousand words. Creative activities like painting inspire young people to reflect on their ideas and understanding of the environment and express them in unique ways. The colourful images are fun to create and convey powerful messages that encourage a greater awareness, appreciation, and love for Guyana’s ecosystems and biodiversity, and motivate the younger generation to protect them.”
More than thirty children, between eight and twelve years, were guided through marine and terrestrial themes by talented Guyanese artists Ransford Simon, Chris Bissessar, and Keyzah Bhola, who kept the fun going and encouraged the young painters to express themselves on canvas.
Ms. Zoya Samaroo, an artist and one of the Foundation’s coordinators, knows how art can create a lasting impact on young minds. According to Samaroo, “One of EMC Foundation’s main goals is to connect young creative minds while highlighting the importance of the environment. As an art enthusiast myself, I can think of no better way to get engaged than by getting your hands a little messy with vibrant colours while learning about the beauty of our natural world.”
Mr. Kemraj Parsram, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, was encouraged by the interactions with the young participants. He stated that, “With increased development and the impacts that come with it, it is important that we continue educating the younger generation and bringing them up to become the future custodians of Guyana’s environment.”
The focus of the Foundation is to provide opportunities, especially for young people, to interact with nature and the environment so that they can develop greater awareness, appreciation and love for Guyana’s ecosystems and biodiversity. The turnout at the paint mixer demonstrated how eager the younger generation is to contribute to efforts to protect them.
“It is important to invest in children’s creative capacities. They are the generation for whom Guyana is conserving its nature,” said Yeşim Oruç, the United Nations Resident Coordinator to Guyana. “It is wonderful to see them learning and being creative about the environment.”
Honourable Sonia Parag, the Minister of Public Service, attended the event with her son and was excited by the creativity shown by the young painters. Hon. Parag noted, “To involve children in environmental protection is commendable and necessary because they will be the leaders in a few years. They will be the ones who push to protect our earth.”
The paint mixer follows the EMC Foundation’s scavenger hunt held in the Botanical Gardens on August 26, 2022, to raise awareness of the environment that saw more than forty young people converge at the Botanical Gardens to find hidden clues. More environmentally-themed events are expected in the coming months.