In commemoration of World Earth Day celebrated earlier this month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched its first ever Earth Day Jeopardy which concluded on Friday. Three secondary schools faced off in the final round of the competition after which Brickdam Secondary emerged victorious, with Stewartville placing second and Linden Foundation trailing in third.
1st place winners, Brickdam Secondary handed over by Ms Safiya Gafoor of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network
This initiative mirrored the structure of the American Television competition, Jeopardy, and was implemented to continue the educational and advocacy strides undertaken by the EPA in highlighting their focus on climate change and environmental protection. When the competition commenced three weeks ago, nine schools from Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) participated in the preliminary rounds with only three advancing to the finals.
Representing their schools in the finals were Serena Rampersaud and Tamera Jones of Brickdam Secondary; Shamela Allen and Antoinella Allen of Linden Foundation; and Ellen Gopaul and Mohamed Sabir of Stewartville Secondary.
The finals of the Earth Day competition commenced with the first rounds of Jeopardy and Double Jeopardy, each presenting five categories for the students to make their pick. Within these categories were a further five clues to which points were awarded for the correct answer. The students of the three schools confidently took on the clues and managed to correctly answer the majority of the questions presented to them. After the first round, the results fairly predicted the outcome, with Brickdam gaining the lead with 370 and Linden off to a slow start, scoring only 30 points. Nonetheless, the teams went head to head in the second and final round, resulting in the end game being a close call.
The questions ranged within the wide focus, incorporating elements of Indigenous culture with attention being placed on the environment and climate change, mostly in relation to Guyana. The students were preview to briefing and training sessions prior to the competition which clearly was reflected in their sharp responses to the questions.
Speaking with Guyana Times, victor Serena Rampersaud relayed her excitement in being the winners of the Earth Day Jeopardy. Rampersaud told this newspaper, “I feel full of excitement that I won. The preparation for the competition was exciting because I was really interested in the competition. It was stuff I didn’t know about. It was a lot of work but it paid off because we won.”
Rampersaud and her teammate Tamera Jones won themselves a nature/heritage trip to the Essequibo Islands in keeping with the exploration and understanding of nature and the changes with the recent years. They will be accompanied by their alternate team member ,as well as the teacher who assisted in the preparation and therefore played a part in their victor.
Brickdam Secondary was also awarded a custom made Earth Day Trophy, while the other two participating schools were rewarded for their participation and earning a spot in the finals.
Speaking at the grand finale was Director of the Communications, Education and Awareness arm of EPA, Sharifah Razack, expressed delight in the initiation of this competition and highlighted the educations benefits of such an undertaking, especially in the spreading of climate change and environmental protection awareness. Razack noted that, “This is not just a game. It has a purpose.” It is aimed at informing those present and participating, as well as others who maybe be exposed to the competition about the reality of climate change and what is needed to be done to prepare and adapt to the changes.
Razack went on to say that, “It is not a time to be complacent. It is an exciting time for youths to decide how you will contribute,” as she pointed out the need for more efforts to manage and prevent further damages brought on by the drastic changes in the environment.
Razack’s warnings were back by Ingrid Trotman, the Assistant Chief Education Office of the Education Ministry. The Early Childhood Education Specialist stated that, “Guyanese need to get serious unless we believe that climate change is just a hoax. Climate change is the reality and we need to do something.” With that, the Assistant CEO urged Guyanese to play their part in protecting the environment and indicated that the Education Ministry is committed to the fight against climate change and its damages to the environment.
The Earth Day Jeopardy is one in the series of environmental protection and awareness initiatives that was embarked on by the EPA as the country joined the world in commemorating Earth Day this year. This competition was sponsored by the Protection Agency and is the fruit of a partnership with several notable entities such as the Education Ministry and the Caribbean Youth Environment Network.
