“…to help people like me fight for their freedom and justice” — Venezuelan NGSA student Emily Vaamode-Beria
Emily Vaamonde-Beria, a Venezuelan with Guyanese parentage, has an intention to pursue a career in law, because she wants to fulfill her passion to help other migrants, like herself, who are relocating to Guyana.
“I would like to be a lawyer, to help people like me fight for their freedom and justice. Some are awaiting their citizenship, while some are waiting to get into schools,” she noted.
(From right) Emily’s father, Brayan Vaamonde; UNHCR Education Officer Samantha Bipat, Emily Vaamonde, RM&MSS Coordinator Rampattie Prashad-Bisnauth, Regional Education Officer Devendre Persaud, and Education Officers attached to the Department of Education (Education Ministry photo)
The 12-year-old gained 515 marks at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations, emerging as the top student at the Crane Primary School, located on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD). She has earned a place at Queen’s College, a school she had always wished to attend.
Emily said she had expected to do well, but never did she expect to turn out as the top student of the school.
“I feel very happy that I could’ve done so well. It was my expectation, but I did not expect to do so well,” Emily said after learning of her results in October.
“We are very proud and happy. We know she would have done good, because we always give her the support and encourage her to work very hard in her education,” her father Brayan Vaamonde has said.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand handing over one of the prizes awarded to Emily at the region’s Awards Ceremony for its NGSA Top Performers (Education Ministry photo)
Placed at the Crane Primary School in 2018, when she emigrated from Venezuela with her sibling and Guyanese parents, Emily revealed that she had difficulty adjusting to the new environment, especially in regard to speaking English. The only English she was exposed to was that of her parents during the years she had resided in Venezuela.
Describing how she adjusted, Emily said, “It was a bit hard with the language barrier, and to understand some of the subjects.”
However, she quickly learned the English words she did not understand, and became a translator for other migrant students at her school.
In fact, her head teacher, Ms. Vashti Paul, noted that Emily is often called upon by teachers to communicate with other Venezuelan students. “She was always happy to do so,” Ms. Paul said.
She praised the young scholar as being an example of an excellent pupil. “She excels at everything she embarks upon, intentionally or unintentionally. She is self-confident and self-motivated. She is a well-rounded pupil, involved in academic as well as co-curricular activities. Throughout her years at the Crane Primary School, she has always been the pupil that achieves the highest percentage in her class,” the teacher added.