GEA hosts “Express Your Energy” forum for Region 2 youths

Energy conservation was farthest from the minds of the 60 students of Grades Five and Six who attended the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) “Express Your Energy” activity on Friday in the auditorium of Cotton Field Secondary School, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

But learn about energy conservation they did to jump start GEA’s activities for Caricom Energy Month (CEM) 2018.
The students represented six primary schools that were selected by the Regional Educational Office: 8th of May Primary, Sparta Primary, CV Nunes Primary, Taymouth Manor Primary, Queenstown Primary and Suddie Primary. The exuberance with which the students and their teachers, who joined in to support their pupils, conveyed their interpretation and knowledge of energy sources, sustainability, energy conservation and energy efficiency through artwork/pictorial illustrations, word search and conservation tips caused a few spectators to flock the windows of the venue.
From its conception in 2012, the activity has targeted primary school students and was hosted this year by the GEA, in collaboration with the Hinterland Electrification Company (HECI) through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)-funded Public Awareness Project – “Promoting the Benefits of Renewable Energy Technologies and the Rational Use of Energy”.
District Education Officer (Primary) Shondelle Hercules, who made remarks on behalf of the Regional Education Officer, said that the timely initiative which was educational and presented in a fun format was enjoyed by both students and teachers.
Meanwhile, Primary Officer Netram Doobay said that “… the activity, even though it focused on energy, demonstrated extensive curriculum integration as the tasks the students had to complete exposed them to Social Studies, Grammar, Science, Art and would even aid them in composition writing…”.
He too expressed gratitude to the GEA and HECI for remembering Region Two and choosing to have their students benefit from the exercise.
The activity was a non-competitive one; therefore, students were not judged or ranked based on their illustrations. Rather, each student (and teacher) was awarded tokens of appreciation as an honorary ‘Energy Champion’. The energy-themed tasks pupils completed were word searches, listing of energy conservation measures and using art to depict renewable energy sources.
The main aim of “Express your Energy” was to tap into the creativity of future energy champions – children, by allowing them to express their views and perspectives on energy-related matters in a non-competitive environment.
In keeping with the promotion of sustainable energy development, CEM 2018 (November 1-30) is being celebrated under the theme “Clean Energy, Good Governance and Regulation: Generating Growth and Resilience.”