Queen’s College (QC) student Vasanna Persaud was yesterday named as Guyana’s Youth Environmental Speaker.
The event coincided with World Environment Day and was the final leg of the Shout Competition, a collaborative effort between local NGO, Recover Guyana, and the Ministry of Education which was launched in March 2023.
A release from Recover Guyana yesterday said that Persaud received a prize package valued at $300,000. A cheque of $500,000 representative in value of a cash grant, training and technical expertise was also handed over to Queen’s College.
In second place was Aryanne Singh of Marian Academy and in the third position was Saahil Hemraj from Skeldon Line Path Secondary School.
The release said that recognition was given to the top three essay submissions from Zeeburg Secondary School, West Demerara Secondary and Queen’s College, the latter of which was awarded the prize for best essay. Additionally, the Best Speaker Award was won by West Demerara Secondary School, Most Influential Speech Award by Qayyim Academy and the Environment Impact Speech Award by QC.
In April, over 85 schools submitted essays on what sustainable changes they would make to their environment if money was not an issue. Only thirty schools were allowed to move forward, after judging, to the next phase which was held yesterday at the Ramada Princess Hotel.
After the opening ceremony yesterday, students took to take to the stage to deliver their prepared speech of about two minutes and after an hour of riveting speeches, the judges deliberated and decided on the top ten that would move immediately into the next segment. These were: Zeeburg Secondary School,
ISA Islamic School, Essequibo Islands Secondary School, Marian Academy, Skeldon Line Path Secondary School, Queen’s College, West Demerara Secon-dary School, Qayyim Academy, The New Guyana School, and President’s College.
At the impromptu segment, the qualifying participants were asked to pick the name of a judge, who then posed a question that the student was required to ponder on initially for thirty seconds and expound on for the next two minutes.
Persaud was asked what advice she would give to children so that they are more environmentally aware and she said that youths should do their research to learn what things impact the environment.
Shout was sponsored and supported by: the Ramada Princess Hotel, Professional Print & Design, Camex Restaurants Inc., Ultra Care Medical Centre Inc., Caribbean Motor Spares, Guyoil, GTT, Guyana Premier Consultancy, Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, Morning Glory, High Commission of India to Guyana, Shermol Cleaners Services & Supplies Inc., Anthony Indar Photography & Videography, ADRI’S Décor and Event Planning, Glo-See Media & Production Network INC., and Trophy Stall.
