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Exciting news! The “Guyana Through Your Eyes” photo exhibition is now featured at the UN House in Georgetown! Special thanks to all participants, finalists, and the United Nations Guyana for their incredible support. #experienceconnectact #Guyana
Georgetown, Guyana –The EMC Foundation, in collaboration with GTT, opened the ‘Guyana through Your Eyes’ photography exhibition at the Castellani House in Georgetown on Saturday, 19th August.
The exhibition celebrates Guyana’s environment and rich cultural heritage, as seen through the lens of photographers across the country. This curated collection encapsulates the essence of the country’s landscapes, people, and traditions, inviting visitors to explore the nation’s spirit and uncover its hidden stories. The exhibition aims to inspire a love for the natural world, promote conservation awareness, and provide a platform for artistic expression.
“Photographers hold the unique ability to transcend language and cultural barriers. They play a crucial role in documenting our planet’s vast natural and cultural diversity,” said Stella Madete, EMC Foundation’s Program Manager. “By capturing images of cultural practices, endangered species, rare habitats, and delicate ecosystems, they provide invaluable records, foster understanding, and ignite the passion for protecting our diverse ecosystems.”
The exhibition marks the culmination of the ‘Guyana through Your Eyes’ photography competition that brought together the creativity and vision of over 100 talented photographers around Guyana. It showcases the finest works that emerged from the competition, selected by an esteemed panel of judges comprised of Michael Lam, Amanda Richards, Darrell Carpenay, Elodie Cage-Smith, Michael Lam, and Roberto Teekah.
Michael Lam shared his thoughts on the competition: “Our expectations were met and even exceeded. These images represented a range of subjects and visions across the length and breadth of our beautiful country. Every photographer should take pride in being included in the shortlist, and even more so in being exhibited in the National Gallery of Art, because now, each piece is more than just a photograph; it is a work of art to be admired, discussed, to be a source of inspiration and a piece that provokes thought in the viewers.”
The top three photographs that captivated the expert panel of judges include ‘Contrasting Fields,’ an aerial perspective of a cow in a rice field, ‘Ready for the Journey’ by Lakhram Trevor Bhagirat, showing a dugout canoe mind stream, and the winner, ‘Mommy’s Patience’ by Keiran Samuels, a dramatic image of a Crimson Topaz Hummingbird braving the rain in her nest.
Elated from his win, Keiran shared his appreciation for the initiative, “’I’m incredibly proud to be the winner of this year’s Guyana Through Your Eyes competition. Photography is a powerful medium that can bridge the gap between people and the natural world, fostering a deeper appreciation for nature’s beauty and importance. Platforms like these are important to not only show our work, but encourage people to look closer, feel deeper, and consider their role in conserving the environment.”
As the world faces escalating environmental challenges, a new champion has emerged – photography. With its unique ability to transcend language barriers and evoke emotions, photography is proving to be an indispensable tool for driving environmental education and raising awareness about pressing ecological issues.
In a brief statement, the EMC Foundation Founder and Director, Shyam Nokta, stated, “Photography allows us to capture the essence of what is around us, including nature and the environment. Advances in technology allow us all, those who have a passion for photography, an interest in nature, as well as professionals in these fields, to capture unique moments. This competition and exhibition by the EMC Foundation has sought to bring together photography and interest in nature as part of efforts to continue to raise awareness about the environment. We hope that through raising awareness, we can help to connect people to take positive action on the environment.”
Kerchelle Charles, GTT’s Chief Commercial Officer, added, “Our support for this competition stems from the desire to showcase the breathtaking natural beauty of Guyana which simultaneously empowering and amplifying the works of talented photographers. Our partnership with EMC Foundation underscores our dedication to uplifting our communities, celebrating the diversity of our nation, and supporting the transformative power of creativity.”
Honorable Charles S. Ramson, Guyana’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports reiterated the Government’s commitment to creating a sustainable future for its citizens through innovative initiatives that include supporting the creative arts as a catalyst for environmental protection.
Hon. Charles S. Ramson’s added, “Incorporating photography and creative arts into environmental advocacy efforts can bring a fresh and compelling perspective to these important issues, fostering a greater understanding of the interconnectedness between us and the natural world. I commend the EMC Foundation efforts in seeking to advance environmental awareness in Guyana. This allows our society to become a lot more conscious about the environment and our responsibility for its protection.”
Also in attendance were the Minister of Public Service, Honourable Sonia Parag, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable Hugh Todd, Minister of Tourism Honourable Oneidge Walrond, US Ambassador Sarah Anne Lynch, Mexico Ambassador Mauricio Vizcaíno Crespo, and IDB Country Representative Lorena Solórzano Salazar, President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, Ms. Dee George, and Executive Director of the EPA Mr. Kemraj Parsram.
Guyana Through Your Eyes exhibition offers a platform for amateur and professional photographers to shine a light on Guyana’s rich biodiversity, celebrate the country’s cultural heritage, and provide a platform to raise awareness of environmental issues. It will run from August 19 to September 21, 2023, at the National Gallery, Castellani House. Members of the public are encouraged to visit.
Wildlife clubs are an integral part of communities in Guyana. They are an engaging way for children to connect with nature and learn about sustainability and the unique animals and plants in an area. On a broader scale, they provide an opportunity for young people to explore the relationship between humans and the environment and engage in community activities.
As part of its mandate to support environmental awareness and education in Guyana, the EMC Foundation collaborated with five coastal communities to establish wildlife clubs at the primary and secondary levels in Santa Aratak, Wakapau, Warapoka, Moraikobai, and Saxacalli.
The primary objectives of the wildlife clubs are to:
On June 2, 2023, the EMC Foundation hosted a panel discussion on the impacts of plastic pollution on the environment and the opportunities to address them in the Guyanese context. The event was held ahead of the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day, marked every year on June 5, to raise awareness of the critical environmental issues and action needed to protect the environment.
The discussion was organised around the remarks of the five expert panellists from across the public and private sectors, including the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Kemraj Parsram; the Senior Private Sector Leader, Ramesh Dookhoo; the Managing Director of Environmental Management Consultants, Shyam Nokta; the Honorary Secretary of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Paul Cheong; and the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations (UN) in Guyana, Yeşim Oruç.
The panellists shared their varied perspectives on plastic pollution in Guyana and possible strategies to reduce its impact feasibly, tailored to Guyana’s unique social, economic, and political context. The panellists placed special emphasis on opportunities for recycling, reusing, and replacing plastics in Guyana and recognised initiatives capitalising on them. Points were bounced between panellists, allowing for an interactive, insightful, and comprehensive discussion.
In attendance were representatives from the EPA, PSC, the UN, Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN), Eco Trust Society, Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS), the University of Guyana Chemistry Club, as well as the Mexican High Commissioner to Guyana, Mauricio Vizcaíno Crespo; EMC Board Member, Gitanjali Chandarpal; and GTT Chief Commercial Officer, Kerchelle Jn Charles.
On May 21, 2023, EMC Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, GTT and Herdmanston Lodge, held a paint mixer ahead of World Biodiversity Day on May 22 to raise awareness of Guyana’s rich biodiversity. Approximately 40 persons were in attendance, with over thirty children participating in the painting activity.
The Paint Mixer engaged children between eight and twelve years from public and private schools in Georgetown. They were provided with a pre-sketched canvas depicting different earth elements: the land, sea, and sky, and the different lifeforms that inhabit them. Talented Guyanese artists Kezyah Bola and Ariela Azaire encouraged the students to use their creativity to paint, resulting in wonderful art pieces.
The activity also included educational trivia and entertaining games that touched on Guyana’s biodiversity, its threats, and how to mitigate them. The Paint Mixer was an excellent opportunity for children to bond with their friends and make new ones while learning creative skills and expressing their thoughts and ideas about the environment.
The Secondary School Environmental Quiz is a televised program developed to inform, educate, and entertain the Guyanese public on environmental concepts and issues. The Quiz involves students and teachers from sixteen top secondary schools in both coastal areas and the hinterland, drawn from all ten administrative regions of Guyana. It is an avenue for students to engage in environmental issues and motivate action through greater environmental awareness and education.
The primary objective of the 2023 iteration of the Secondary School Environmental Quiz was to raise awareness and appreciation of Guyana’s environment, its rich culture, heritage, ecosystems, and biodiversity, as well as key topics such as climate change and initiatives being pursued by Guyana. Specifically, the Quiz aimed to:
The 2023 Secondary School Environmental Quiz was organised by the EMC Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Iwokrama International Centre, with support from the ExxonMobil Foundation.
The EMC Foundation handed over the Hidden Gems of the Botanical Gardens booklet to the Protected Areas Commission (PAC). The booklet was developed to highlight the Gardens’ various features, encourage the public to visit the area more often, and support activities to preserve it.
Mr. Jason Fraser, Commissioner of the Protected Areas Commission, EMC Foundation founder Mr. Shyam Nokta, and Foreign Secretary, Chairman of the PAC Board, Mr. Robert Persuad, made brief remarks at the ceremony and commended the initiative.
The Hidden Gems of the Botanical Gardens booklet were handed over to the various wildlife clubs and agencies in attendance. Copies of the booklet will soon be made available to the public through schools and local libraries and will be a valued outreach tool.
On September 25, 2022, EMC Foundation, in collaboration with the Herdmanston Lodge, held a paint mixer at the Herdmanston Lodge. Approximately 46 persons were in attendance, 25 of whom participated in the painting activity.
The Paint Mixer engaged children between the ages of five and fourteen. They were given a choice to paint on terrestrial or marine pre-sketched canvases and encouraged to select colours that matched their choice and be as creative as they wanted. The children also participated in interactive trivia while they painted, answering questions on Guyanese topics ranging from social and cultural heritage to the local environment.
The participants were bubbly and excited throughout the event, easily making friends and sharing painting ideas in animated laughter and discussions. They also inspired healthy competition during the trivia and were eager to provide hints and make jokes. Volunteers and artists were present to support, interact, and engage with the participants as much as possible. They were also responsible for selecting painters to answer trivia questions.
On November 05, 2022, the EMC Foundation held a volunteer connect at Moray House. Approximately 16 young people were in attendance.
The event consisted of games, interactive trivia, and discussions about Guyana, the environment, and the Foundation. The volunteers interacted openly and with much energy and enthusiasm, eagerly sharing their stories and finding common ground. The discussions revealed that most of the volunteers present were also members of other environmental groups such as the University of Guyana’s Chemistry, Biology and Astrology clubs, the Eco-Trust Society, the Caribbean Youth Environment Network, and the United Nations volunteer core, among others.
The volunteers were eager to learn about the Foundation and frequently enquired about future events they could help organise and participate in. Through this event, the Foundation coordinators gained a better understanding of volunteers, specifically their interests, hobbies,and skills, which will inform their contributions to the Foundation.
On August 21, 2022, EMC Foundation held a scavenger hunt at the Botanical Gardens to discover the hidden gems of the Gardens and highlight its various features. Approximately fifty persons were in attendance, thirty of whom participated.
The Caribbean Youth Environmental Network, the University of Guyana’s Biology Club, Chemistry Club, and Eco-trust Society, and members of the public all participated in the scavenger hunt. Team members were visibly excited and ran across the gardens, eagerly looking for and deciphering clues in animated discussions.
The University of Guyana’s (UG) Biology club completed the hunt in the fastest time and was awarded the first prize, while the Eco-Trust Society and the Caribbean Youth Environmental Network gained second and third places, respectively.
