The top 20 national finalists of the SHOUT4Change environmental speech competition participated in an intensive capacity-building session hosted by ExxonMobil Guyana on May 23, aimed at deepening their understanding of environmental sustainability, conservation and Guyana’s low-carbon development agenda.
SHOUT4Change, now in its fourth year, is Guyana’s national environmental speech competition. The initiative is implemented by Recover Guyana in partnership with the Ministry of Education, with support from ExxonMobil Guyana.
According to a release from ExxonMobil Guyana, the in-person session formed a key component of the competition’s developmental programme and was designed to strengthen participants’ knowledge of conservation efforts and the role of industry in supporting sustainable development.
The programme began with an operational update from ExxonMobil Guyana representatives, who provided finalists with an overview of the company’s activities. Particular emphasis was placed on environmental management and sustainability practices within the company’s operations.
Participants also received a presentation from representatives of the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development on the Guyana Conservation Initiative (GCI) and its alignment with Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030.
The GCI, funded through a multi-year grant from the ExxonMobil Foundation, supports initiatives focused on marine and biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, sustainable livelihoods and community development in coastal and hinterland communities.
As part of the experiential learning component of the programme, the finalists toured the Mangrove Information Centre, where they learned about the role of mangroves in protecting coastlines, preserving biodiversity and enhancing climate resilience.
The students also visited the Turkeyen Seawall Mural to explore how public art can be used to raise environmental awareness and encourage community engagement on sustainability issues.
ExxonMobil Guyana said the competition continues to provide young people with opportunities to develop their advocacy and public-speaking skills while increasing their understanding of environmental challenges and solutions.
The company noted that the SHOUT National Environmental Speech Competition aims to empower young voices across Guyana by equipping participants with the knowledge and confidence needed to advocate for a more sustainable future, with ExxonMobil Guyana remaining a key partner in the initiative over the years.
