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The EMC Foundation and GTT today launched the ‘Guyana through Your Eyes’ photography competition at the GTT Head Office.

The competition aims to showcase Guyana’s rich biodiversity, celebrate the Country’s cultural heritage, and provide a platform to raise awareness of environmental issues. It also seeks to encourage a better understanding of the complexity of the natural environment, encourage people to build a personal connection with nature and advocate for its protection.

According to EMC Program Manager Stella Madete, ‘The EMC Foundation is happy to partner with GTT to showcase Guyana’s cultural and natural heritage through the universal language of photography. Pictures bring nature to life in ways many are unable to witness or experience. For most people, seeing is believing, and photos can help them connect with the world and nature and encourage them to care about its preservation.’

The competition will run until July 31, 2023, and is open to persons of all ages. Professional and amateur photographers across Guyana are invited to submit their aspirational, vibrant, and captivating photography.

Jasmin Harris, the GTT Senior Manager of Public Relations and Corporate Communications, added that ‘GTT is proud to partner with the EMC Foundation to shine a spotlight on environmental stories through the eyes of talented photographers. This competition is a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness of Guyana’s environment and the importance of contributing to its protection.’

The competition features four categories: Landscape, Flora and Fauna, Guyanese Cultural Heritage, and Climate Adaptation. A panel of judges comprising a stellar line-up of Guyanese photographers and artists will review the submissions and select the winning photos. The top 20 images will be displayed at an EMC Foundation-hosted exhibition and awards ceremony at the Castellani House in Georgetown on August 19, 2023, World Photography Day.

Ahead of the 50th Anniversary of World Environment Day, EMC Foundation has hosted a panel discussion on plastic pollution, to raise awareness of its impacts and seek solutions to mitigate same. World Environment Day is observed on June 5 each year.

That event, hosted in collaboration with GTT and Herdmanston Lodge on Thursday, had a panel comprised of Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Guyana, Yesim Oruç; Honourary Secretary of the Private Sector Commission, Paul Cheong; Managing Director of Environmental Management Consultants Inc, Shyam Nokta; Senior Private Sector Leader Ramesh Dookhoo, and Executive Director of the EPA, Kemraj Parsram.

The discussion was moderated by Kandila Ramotar of the EMC.

The event, which was livestreamed on the EMC Foundation Facebook Page, attracted participation from several organisations and individuals, and provided an opportunity for the panelists to share views and interact with each other, as well as respond to questions from the audience.

The panelists discussed the international attention and urgency of addressing plastic pollution, and the efforts through the United Nations to mobilise countries to take action. There was recognition that there are opportunities in Guyana for recycling, re-use, and replacing plastics, and initiatives are already rolled out in these areas, but they need to be supported.

In a release on Saturday, EMC said that one of the key outcomes of the discussion was the need for a holistic approach, involving not only Government organizations, but Private Sector and Civil Society. There was general agreement that a coordinated and continued effort should be undertaken to address this important national and global issue. Several areas for action were highlight, including policy and legislation, improving solid waste management systems and practices, monitoring and enforcement, public awareness and education, as well as incentives for consumers and companies.

In an effort to ensure that this issue of plastic pollution continues to receive attention, the EMC Foundation will continue to organize activities aimed at bringing stakeholders together to find solutions.

EMC Foundation was established by 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 people, and providing opportunities to experience Guyana’s rich natural environment.

Georgetown, Guyana – Georgetown, Guyana – The EMC Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, GTT, and Herdmanston Lodge, hosted a Paint Mixer on May 21, ahead of Biodiversity Day on May 22, 2023, to raise awareness of Guyana’s rich biodiversity.

Established by Shyam Nokta, winner of the 2022 Anthony N Sabga Award for Entrepreneurship, the EMC Foundation aims to support environmental awareness and education in Guyana by promoting activities which encourage a greater understanding of the environment, create a network to connect like-minded people and provide opportunities to experience Guyana’s rich natural environment.

The paint-mixer was a resounding success, with over thirty children between eight and twelve years old from public and private schools in Georgetown participating. In his comments, Nokta said, “It is inspiring to see young people so passionate about the environment. Activities like these are a creative way for young people to express themselves and their understanding of the environment. The EMC Foundation will continue working with our partners, the Ministry of Education, GTT, and Herdmanston, to support initiatives that raise awareness and promote a better understanding and appreciation of biodiversity, especially among the younger generation.”

Talented Guyanese artists Kezyah Bola and Ariela Azairehe guided the students in painting vibrant canvases representing Guyana’s rich biodiversity. The paint mixer also included exciting educational trivia and entertaining games that touched on Guyana’s unique biodiversity, its threats, and how we can work together to mitigate them. In attendance were GTT Chief Commercial Officer Ms. Kerchelle Jn Charles, the United Nations Resident Coordinator Ms. Yeşim Oruç, the British High Commissioner Ms Jane Miller OBE, and the Environmental Protection Agency Executive Director Mr. Kemraj Parsram.

Since its establishment, the EMC Foundation has undertaken several activities to raise environmental awareness among young people. These include a Scavenger Hunt in the Botanical Gardens, a Paint Mixer at the Herdmanston Lodge in 2022, and, more recently, the nationally broadcast 2023 Secondary School Environmental Quiz. With more interactive activities like these expected in the coming months, the EMC Foundation hopes to encourage the younger generation to develop greater awareness, appreciation, and love for Guyana’s natural environment.

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.

A scavenger hunt held to introduce the EMC Foundation saw more than forty young people converge at the Botanical Gardens on Sunday morning amidst heavy downpours to find clues hidden around the gardens.

The Foundation was created by Shyam Nokta, winner of the 2022 Anthony N Sabga Award for Entrepreneurship. It 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.

More than forty young people participated in the scavenger hunt. The University of Guyana’s 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.

Zoya Samaroo and Deopaul Somwaru, who coordinated the event and are members of the Foundation, said they were thrilled with the turnout and were excited by the enthusiasm shown by the participants. According to Samaroo, “Young people are agents of change and can play an active role in fostering greater appreciation and understanding of the beauty and fragility of our environment and the importance of protecting it through continuous awareness and education. The Botanical Gardens was the perfect venue for the event as it helped raise awareness of important historical landmarks within the Gardens as well as our natural heritage.”

In brief comments, Mr. Shyam Nokta said, “The Foundation is a dream realised for the Company and my family, to give our people the opportunity to interact with the environment so that they can develop greater awareness and love for Guyana’s biodiversity and be inspired to protect it. Global attention is now on how countries can find a balance between conservation and development. Guyana, to its credit, has led the way in this regard by pursuing low-carbon development. This Foundation will contribute to these efforts by helping to create a new generation of young people who understand and appreciate Guyana’s biodiversity and reimagine our relationship and future with it.’

The Foundation will organise several events in the coming months and thanks all participants of its inaugural scavenger hunt.