On August 2, 2025, the EMC Foundation proudly hosted the second Community Listening Session for the Arya Takes a Swim Audio Series and Audiobook project in the culturally rich village of St. Cuthbert’s Mission (Pakuri), located in the Mahaica region.
This special event brought together residents of all ages to experience Arya Takes a Swim in an immersive and meaningful way. Attendees listened to both the English and Arawak versions of the story, viewed exclusive behind-the-scenes footage on the making of the audiobook, and enjoyed a special video snippet of the Arawak-language version.
The event was warmly welcomed by the community and attended by Toshao Mr. Alvoro Simon, the St. Cuthbert’s Secondary Environmental Club Coordinator, Ms. Michelle Schuman, Village Elder and Previous Toshao, Mr. Leeland Clenkian, teachers, students and other village representatives.
The response from the community was enthusiastic and deeply emotional. St. Cuthbert’s Mission is one of the many villages where Arawak is spoken, and for many, hearing the Arawak language in a creative, modern format was both exciting and inspiring. The session also strengthened local awareness about sea turtle conservation and the importance of protecting local wildlife and ecosystems.
Ms. Sarah Singh, Program Coordinator of the EMC Foundation, delivered remarks during the session, highlighting that the Arya Takes a Swim story is a broader conservation message that reflects years of conservation work aimed at protecting Guyana’s four sea turtle species.
She explained that the story draws from turtle telemetry activities conducted by Environmental Management Consultants Inc. (EMC) along the Shell Beach Protected Area, and that the main character’s name honours Her Excellency Mrs. Arya Ali, First Lady of Guyana, who is a strong advocate for both animal welfare and human rights.
Sarah also noted that this project honours Indigenous communities and helps to preserve their language. “These communities have lived in harmony with the environment for generations, carrying deep knowledge of the land, rivers, and wildlife. However, many of these cultural traditions and languages are under threat, as fewer people are learning and speaking their Indigenous languages today.”
Also providing remarks was the Toshao of St. Cuthbert’s Mission, Mr. Alvoro Simon, who commended the work that the EMC Group has been doing in the community for the past few years. These include research, its E-STEM Program with environmental clubs, environmental monitoring, support for livelihood projects, educational publications, and a variety of innovative outreach initiatives.
He noted, “We’ve been very grateful, the club would know Sarah and the team here as they come here often and are very knowledgeable. They’re very insightful into the stuff that they do here in the village. And we trust them. At our end, it is exactly what we need right now. As our country, as our world, for a matter of fact, it becomes more modern and much more sophisticated and much more technological, we need to conserve what we have here”.
Mr. Simon also explained how his community has been influenced by other coastal communities, and with this, fewer residents are speaking their native tongue, Arawak or Lokono. To this end, he announced that they will be launching a new educational programme, in which the Arya Takes a Swim Audio Series and Audiobook project played a major role.
He proudly stated, “As of the new term, we will be creating a programme where we will be teaching the Arawak language in the schools. So, as you guys will return to school in September, we’ll start formulating a plan where we can teach it in schools. And, of course, as we have seen from this and our experimental experience with this project, your children can definitely learn faster than some adults.”
The event extended beyond just listening. It featured an engaging Turtle Conservation Exhibition, and EMC Foundation Corner showcasing the organisation’s key publications, and fun turtle-themed activity and colouring pages for children.
Through interactive events like this, the EMC Foundation continues to bridge the gap between conservation, culture, and community. By blending storytelling, science, and Indigenous voices, the Foundation remains committed to protecting Guyana’s biodiversity while celebrating its rich linguistic and cultural heritage.
Attendees Viewing the Videos During the Programme
Ms. Sarah Singh Hosting the Listening Session
Toshao Alvoro Simon Providing Remarks During the Listening Session
Attendees Interacting with the Turtle Conservation Exhibition
Attendees Interacting with the EMC Foundation Corner
EMC Foundation Team Members Interacting with the Attendees on Marine Turtle Conservation
Attendees Completing Turtle-Themed Colouring and Activity Sheets
Attendees Engaging with the Turtle Telemetry Selfie Frame
The EMC Foundation was established by Mr. Shyam Nokta, winner of the 2022 Anthony N Sabga Award for Entrepreneurship. The Foundation works to support environmental awareness and education in Guyana by promoting activities which encourage a greater understanding of the environment, creating a network to connect like-minded persons, and providing opportunities to experience Guyana’s rich natural environment.