On March 20, 2026, the EMC Foundation conducted an initiation visit to Soesdyke Secondary School to engage with the newly formed Environmental Club. The session, attended by approximately 300 students from Forms one to five and five teachers, provided the EMC Foundation team with an opportunity to introduce itself, discuss exciting plans for upcoming activities, and outline the work plan for the first term.
The session began with a lively icebreaker, “Fact or Fiction,” facilitated by Abigail Gobin, Projects Assistant, alongside Siddi Nandkishore, Projects Assistant, and Sasha Singh, Intern. In this interactive activity, students responded to a variety of statements by choosing to sit or stand depending on whether they believed each one was true or false. This created a fun and welcoming atmosphere while encouraging participation and critical thinking.
Abigail provided an engaging overview of the EMC Foundation’s mission, initiatives, projects, and past activities, capturing the students’ attention and sparking curiosity about the environment and conservation. The club members were particularly interested in learning about the EMC Foundation’s Biodiversity Monitoring Programs, drone programs and outreach activities.
The students were highly engaged and eager to learn, actively asking and answering questions about camera traps, drones, and GPS technology and their uses in wildlife monitoring. The session also included a viewing of camera trap footage, which amazed the students and allowed them to identify several local animals, prompting further discussion about the wildlife they saw. Students also expressed a strong interest in participating in a tour to gain firsthand experience in the field.
By the end of the session, students were excited and ready to begin Environmental Club activities, participate in the fun exercises outlined in the work plans, and had gained a greater appreciation for environmental work, which may inspire them to become future environmentalists.
The EMC Foundation E-STEM Program is supported by the ExxonMobil Foundation.
Ms. Abigail Gobin Facilitating the Session
Club Members Engaging in the “Fact or Fiction” Activity
Club Members Interacting with the EMC Foundation Team
Club Members Interacting with EMC Foundation publications
Club Members Viewing Videos on Activities Implemented by the EMC Group
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.