It's just two years old, but already the Wildlife Conservation Festival, hosted in the North Rupununi village of Annai, is a big hit.
Just recently, the festival attracted more than 200 children from the surrounding villages, as well as members of the 13 wildlife clubs of the North Rupununi that form the North Rupununi Junior Wildlife Conservation Council (NRJWCC).
According to Waldyke Prince, Manager of the Citizen Science Project of the Iwokrama International Centre, the objective of the annual festival is to promote awareness about Guyana's wildlife, as well as the importance of its sustainable use and conservation.
"The overall theme of this year's event was 'Healthy Youths Towards A Healthy Environment', with special emphasis on the protection and conservation of endangered species, which came in the form of discussions about social issues and responsibilities," Prince told Stabroek News during a recent interview. The festival was held in April.
The festival opened with a grand costume and banner parade and attendees included Dr. Rovin Deodat, Director, Information and Training, in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Brian Allicock who represented the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, and Desiree Hamilton of the Education Ministry.
Some of the costumes included a giant river turtle, a family of jabirus (large storks), as well as traditional wear and banners bearing club mottos and symbols.
The Aranaputa Junior Wildlife Club won the best costume, while the Annai Youth Conservation Club was the first runner-up. Fair View Junior Wildlife Club won the best banner, with the Mora Youth Wildlife Club (Wakapoa) coming in second.
But the Surama Junior Wildlife Club was not to be left out - their members got a special prize for exhibiting the best traditional wear. Two youths from the village of Rupertee - Anil Roberts and Akema McPherson - continued the mural, which was started at the first Wildlife Festival. That mural depicts the various habitats of the North Rupununi wetlands.
The youths also used the occasion to demonstrate other artistic skills, such as performing skits and cultural shows that reflect the conflicts among stakeholders in wildlife management, as well as the issues of AIDS and alcohol abuse.
Dr. Deodat, who on the opening day addressed the participants, observed that based on the attendance, the festival is already a success. He, however, urged the participants to note the importance of building linkages, and encouraged them to be innovative and continuously seek knowledge.
According to Prince, the second day commenced with awareness group activities on social issues such as HIV/AIDS, drug and alcohol abuse and these were coordinated by Liz Shuster and Nadia French of Lifeline Counselling. On that day, too, the clubs participated in activities that portray indigenous life, an environmental quiz and videos on social issues and nature.
On the final day of the festival, the visiting clubs were taken on a hike up a mountain to have a bird's eye view of the North Rupununi savannahs.
The clubs which participated at the festival were Wowetta Junior Wildlife Club, Annai Youth Conservation Wildlife Club, Surama Junior Wildlife Club, Rewa Junior Wildlife and Conservation Club, Kwatamang Conservation Wildlife Club, Yakarinta Giant Otter Club, Massara Junior Wildlife Club, Toka Junior Conservation Club, Fairview Wildlife Observation Club, Aranaputa Junior Wildlife Club, Apoteri Arapaima Junior Wildlife Club, Rupertee Junior Wildlife Club and Crash Water Junior Wildlife Club.
Other groups represented were Santa Mission Junior Rangers Club, Mora Youth Wildlife Club (Wakapoa), 8th of May - Cleanliness is Next to Goodliness Environmental Club, and the St. Ignatius Environmental Club.
The wildlife clubs of the North Rupununi would like to spread the conservation message across Guyana and the rest of the world and their message is: "This dream is more realised with the implementation of the Citizen Science Project in the North Rupununi."
If you would like to learn more about the clubs, or think you can help with their development, you can contact Waldyke Prince at the Iwokrama International Centre at wprince@iwokrama.org.