28 youths to explore Guyana through apprenticeship programme

…engage in conservation of natural resources

The Natural Resources Ministry on Monday welcomed its third batch of youth apprentices who will spend the next four weeks exploring Guyana’s pristine waters, mineral resources and wildlife while learning how they are sustainably managed.

The programme has seen a growing number of participating youths within the age range of 15-19. Participants were selected from all ten administrative regions after submitting essays and other supporting information for the topics that were specified.
During the launching ceremony at the Herdmanston Lodge, Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman said that this initiative is geared towards involving youths in important aspects of environmental preservation.
“Through this programme, we aimed to achieve two primary objectives – to urgently involve youths in the protection and preservation of our natural resources. We believed then and still do now that if we do not actively engage young people in a meaningful way in this sector, we stand to lose the gains we have made because there will be no one with the desire, passion and commitment to take up the cause,” the Minister explained.
Personnel Manager of the Guyana Forestry Commission, Sonya Reece explained that over 70 applications were submitted from persons across the country, hinting at the number of young persons that are interested in what Guyana has to offer.
“It have been an excellent journey. The Youth in Natural Resources Apprenticeship programme first started in 2017, an approximately four weeks programme attracting youths from all ten administrative regions in Guyana…application forms were available on the Ministry’s website, all regional offices, mines offices of the GGMC (Guyana Geology and Mines Commission), forest stations of the Guyana Forestry Commission, Linden Technical Institute, University of Guyana, Institute of Applied Science and Technology, [Indigenous] Affairs Ministry and the Ministry of Natural Resources,” Reece informed.
Last year, the youths were able to visit the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, Turtle Mountain, mining sites and other interior locations. Some previous apprentices said the experience was fulfilling and will be one of their greatest memories.
Fatima Karim, who was part of the first batch expressed, “It’s about looking at the bauxite site and seeing more than meets the eye, reaching with an inner understanding into the earth to produce something beautiful…I can’t say if it has changed me. Moreso, it unlocked something inside of me.”
On the other hand, Emmanuel Trotman, who hails from the mining town of Linden, relayed, “I spent all of my life in Linden, not really having much opportunity or reason to go beyond the boundaries. On this programme, I got the opportunity to see so many places, faces and people of every race in just a small space of time.”
Private companies and public agencies such as MACORP, ExxonMobil, Guyana School of Agriculture, the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), Bosai Bauxite and Iwokrama Rainforest Conservation have partnered with the Ministry to provide sponsorship.