On August 29, 2025, the EMC Foundation proudly hosted our fifth Community Listening Session for the Arya Takes a Swim Audio Series and Audiobook project in the scenic Indigenous Village of Wakapoa, located in Region 2.
This exciting engagement brought together residents of all ages to enjoy Arya Takes a Swim in an immersive and meaningful way. The attendees eagerly listened to both the English and Arawak versions of the story, viewed exclusive behind-the-scenes footage on the making of the audiobook, and watched a special video snippet of the Lokono-language version.
The gathering was warmly embraced by the community and attended by the Acting Head teacher of the Primary School, Ms. Luraine Cornelius, teachers, students, community service officers, village elders and other residents.
The response was enthusiastic and heartfelt, with a few attendees expressing their excitement at hearing the Arawak language in such a creative, modern presentation. The community was also filled with pride upon seeing one of their residents, Ms. Samantha Thomas, playing a pivotal role in the development of the audio series and audiobook. The session also helped raise local awareness about sea turtle conservation and the importance of safeguarding Guyana’s diverse wildlife and habitats.
Ms. Sarah Singh, EMC Foundation’s Programme Coordinator, chaired the listening session and emphasised that Arya Takes a Swim bears an overarching message on local conservation efforts to protect the four endangered turtle species in Guyana. She explained that the story was inspired by the turtle telemetry programme conducted by Environmental Management Consultants (EMC) Inc. along the Shell Beach Protected Area. She also explained that the main character was named after Her Excellency Mrs. Arya Ali, First Lady of Guyana, to honour her dedicated advocacy for animal welfare and human rights.
Ms. Singh also highlighted that the project honours Indigenous communities and contributes to the preservation of their languages. “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.”
Acting Headmistress of the Wakapoa Primary School, Ms. Luraine Cornelius, also delivered brief remarks during the session. She extended her gratitude to the EMC Foundation for the enjoyable listening event and stressed the importance of learning one’s Native language along with staying informed on turtle conservation. “We have some EMC Foundation publications in our library which people can read and some are about Shell Beach, which is not too far from here. It was a good and cheerful session, and we got to learn about the Arawak Language and turtles.”
At the end of the session, attendees enjoyed a wonderful Turtle Conservation Exhibition, an EMC Foundation Corner which displayed key publications, and engaging turtle-themed children’s activities which included word search, crossword and colouring pages.
The Arya Takes a Swim Audio Series and Audiobook project was implemented by the EMC Foundation with support from the Blue Social Challenge Fund Pilot, part of the UK’s Sustainable Blue Economy Programme. It forms an important part of the EMC Foundation’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness and foster a collective commitment to marine turtle conservation in Guyana.
Through interactive events like this, the EMC Foundation continues to bring together 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 Delivering Remarks During the Session
Ms. Luraine Cornelius Delivering Remarks During the Session
Attendees Interacting with the Turtle Conservation Exhibition
Attendees Interacting with the EMC Foundation Corner
Attendees Completing Turtle-Themed 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.