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Finding Your Purpose WHILE travelling to Suriname, I was thinking: what do I share today from Beyond the Runway…? After having such a hectic week as March came to a close, people were asking how tired I was. Of course a bit of tiredness is stepping in but when you love what you do, your reserve energy kicks in automatically. The INSPIRE YOU event was truly inspirational. The speakers were all dynamic and very diverse. Although Anna McKoy did a virtual presentation her energy was so high, it was as if she was in the room, with us. She shared a very profound meaning of inspire defining the meaning of every letter. Her message was about finding who you are and giving the best version of you. Pamela Robinson who came to Guyana for the first time spoke about finding your purpose and she shared her story about her early pregnancy and hitting rock bottom and how she recovered and why it is important to share your story. My friend Linda Wallace shared the message of hope from Aruba. All the way from London, Sherry Dixon’s message was about the importance of branding yourself. She had so much humor in her presentation and the audience received her well. Kerrensa Gravesande spoke about her career in a male-dominated industry and how she copes daily with staying relevant; from sometimes the only woman in the boardroom to being mistaken for the person making the coffee. Hilda Bournes shared her very emotional story of abuse from her grandfather from an early age which continued into her adult life. She wrote a book called Nell’s Nightmare which has details that it’s truly heart rendering and will jerk a few tears. That book was released that same day and went to number one in two categories. The Hon. Minister of Public Telecommunication, Cathy Hughes, Hon. Minister Valarie Lowe, Mrs. Sita Nagamottoo, wife of the Hon. Prime Minister Moses Nagamottoo, were all in high praises of the event and so were the other patrons. Some of the comments include: “I am so charged up after this event that I feel I can take on the world. I am ready to make the changes to live my full
potential” “I had challenges coming here today and would have been so mad if I had missed this because this was food for my soul.” “I will be a pursuing a career in the oil sector and it was great to hear Ms Kerri” “It was great to see so many young women at the event because listening to these great women can assist them to shape their future” Last Tuesday was very emotional but one of the best days for the month of March. I visited Shondel from Berbice who is the young lady that was burnt with acid recently. She is so strong and very forgiving and we plan to assist her to raise some funds for her surgery. Then on to the women’s prison with Hilda and Niketa. The women were happy to see us. We shared stories, laughed and cried. Every life has a story and it is always great to share them because your story does not belong to you. Your stories are meant to be shared to inspire others. We distributed Expo T-shirts sponsored by Impression’s and expo booklets which has the listing with all exhibitors. I told them in the future their names may be in that booklet if they pursue their dreams and stick to it. One of the ladies was very excited and shared with us her future plans of starting a boutique when she is released and making it to participate in the Women in Business Expo 2018. I had promised them a copy of Women’s Code and I also presented them with one of my favourites: Abundance Now by Lisa Nichols. I told them to be there for each other and think about how they can collaborate to make each other’s lives better in and out of prison. I fell in love with one of the inmate’s baby girl; I met her mom last year while visiting them and told her if she has a daughter she will have many dresses from me; she will be wearing Sonia Noel Designs before the end of the month. Our next stop was Vrymans Ervin Secondary School, New Amsterdam Berbice. Although I may not be here when we celebration 100 years of independence it is important to me for us to be much better
Chronicle Pepperpot April 2, 2017
off than the first 50 years. The youth population will play a very integral part in that, so it is important that we mould them well. Going to schools across Guyana is top on the list to my foundation and we will continue to do with the limited resources we have. We all as citizens of Guyana pledge to do more to make this land of ours what it could be. They say pictures tell a thousand words so an am leaving you on this super Sunday with a few pics. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. Charles R. Swindoll Send your emails to beyondtherunwayone1@gmail. com and visit our FB page as we continue this because journey called life beyond the runway
EVERY HOUR IS in Guyana EARTH HOUR
Over 1500 Guyanese have been involved by WWF Guianas and partners for Earth Hour 2017. As climate change continues to pose as a threat to places, species and people’s livelihoods, almost 500 Guyanese joined WWF Guianas, Guyana Office and its partners on Saturday March 25, 2017 at the Thomas Lands Parking Lot of the National Park to celebrate the largest environmental event in the world: Earth Hour, and to shine a light on climate action. The event at the National Park was the main and final act of a month of activities, celebrations, events and school awareness sessions all throughout Guyana. The Environment Days alone - lead by the High Commission of Canada, the Embassy of Mexico and the Embassy of Brazil – gathered around the topics of Earth Hour a total of almost 200 persons, who attended the three cultural activities proposed: two movie screenings and a concert. Schools across the country played a big role in the #ChangeClimateChange challenge launched by WWF Guyana. Through the Awareness Sessions in 17 schools across Regions 4, 5, 6 and 10, targeted 350 primary and secondary school students to discuss climate change and its impacts. This activity was a collaborative effort between CYEN in Guyana
and the Office of Climate Change. Similarly, the “Youth Shining A Light On Climate Action” Earth Hour Debate Competition, saw students from three Secondary School debating topics that addressed the three Earth Hour thematic areas. In attendance were approximately 160 students and guests, over a total of 3 days of competition. Moreover, added to the celebrations at the National Park on Earth Hour night, were a series of special events: candlelit dinners held at the Iwokrama River Lodge and Pegasus Hotel Guyana, story-telling under the stars in Annai, North Rupununi and the switching-off of both Marriott Guyana and Pegasus Hotel Guyana’s hotel signs as of show of their support to Earth Hour and its message. Over 100 persons attended the events in the interior (at Iwokrama and in the Rupununi), and indigenous communities embraced Earth Hour, making it become an opportunity to bring back to life traditional ways of gathering around fires all together. Partners were key in making all these activities happen and in pushing Guyana’s climate awareness forward. Focusing on three thematic areas relevant to Guyana, Agriculture, Conservation and Biodiversity and Renewable Energy, the main celebration at the National Park in fact saw presentations and pledges from a
number of international and local agencies. These include Ms. Mikiko Tanaka, United National Resident Coordinator, Mr. Greg Quinn, UK High Commissioner in Guyana, Mr. Ivan Sierra Medel, Ambassador of Mexico, Ms. Janelle Christian, Head of the Office of Climate Change, Ms. Onika Stellingburg, representative of the Department of Environment, Mr. Derek Lambe, Charge d’Affaires, European Union, Ms. Jan Sheltinga Deputy of the High Commission of Canada, Ms. Elizabeth Smith, representative of the US Embassy, Mr. Paolo Marchi, Deputy of UNICEF in Guyana, Mr. Godfrey Scott, President of CYEN in Guyana and of course Ms Aiesha Williams, Country Manager of WWF Guianas, Guyana Office. In addition to these pledges and presentations, the audience was treated to scintillating entertainment pieces from Music Unlimited, Jazz and Poetry On A Stool (JAPOS), GBTI’s Buxton Steel Pride Orchestra, National Dance Company, Happy Feet Dance School, Mr. Rovindra Persaud and representatives from the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences of the University of Guyana. At 8:30pm there was the symbolic switching-off of non-essential lights, followed by the lighting of the 60+ emblem. Guyana, Guyanese and the international community members deployed in Guyana all joined and demonstrated their commitment to change climate change and to take climate action into their daily lives. Every little ac-
tion can make a difference and everyone is invited to read and follow the tips featured in the handbook WWF produced for Earth Hour 2017, written by Michael Harding and available for free download on www.guianas.org. The support received from local and international agencies, businesses and citizens for this year’s event is testimony to the fact that together, we can all help to change climate change by both individual and collective actions. Every hour is Earth Hour, so let us continue to change climate change and make Guyana even greener. As WWF likes to say: #TogetherPossible is the only way to make things happen. Earth Hour in Guyana is a project of WWF Guianas, Guyana Office, implemented with the support of a series of partners: Caribbean Youth Environment Network in Guyana, Protected Areas Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Education, Office of Climate Change, Faculty of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Guyana, Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development, Conservation International Guyana, Cuso International, Embassy of Brazil, Canada High Commission, Embassy of Mexico, UK High Commission, US Embassy, European Union, UNICEF, UNDP, Rotaract Club Georgetown, Annai Central, Rupertee Village. Thanks to Pegasus Hotel Guyana, Marriott Hotel Georgetown for their participation.