SOME 20 students from all ten administrative regions of Guyana were on Friday awarded for completing the third annual China-Guyana Friendship Youth Leadership Development Competition.

The third iteration of the competition was said to use positive youth development strategies which focused on forging positive relationships among youths, their families, schools and communities.

At the award ceremony, which was held at the Chinese Embassy in Guyana, the Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan said that both China and Guyana attach great importance to education, and care about the growth of the young generation.

Throughout the competition, according to the ambassador, through poetry, paintings and other forms of expression, the winners were able to display the contributions of the Chinese to Guyana’s development and nation-building.

The ambassador added that the winners of the competition all did an excellent job through many projects, which included waste recycling, water purification, hydroponics, and mobile libraries among others, even as some participants successfully launched awareness campaigns on bullying, sexual abuse and breast cancer.

She told the winners: “You have made a great contribution to the public welfare of the school, of the local communities and brought strong leadership and a sense of responsibility.”
The ambassador added that the awards ceremony is not an end but a new starting point for their personal development, commitment to society, and their country and dedication to the friendship between China and Guyana.

As part of the competition, hundreds of students from Grades Eight to Ten, across all 11 educational districts, applied to be part of the competition. However, the competition further shortlisted only eight participants from each district, based on a strict criterion.

It further served to strengthen soft and technical skills, cultivating trustworthy safe spaces and also offering the youths opportunities to execute meaningful community projects that impact their communities in meaningful ways.

Youths who placed first and second place in their respective regions were awarded at the ceremony.

From Port Kaituma Secondary, Region One (Barima-Waini), there was Lorenzo Smartt and Akeila Prince in first and second place, respectively. In Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), GraceAnn Stellingburg of Aurora Secondary secured first place, and Alicia Griffith from 8th of May Secondary came second.

In Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Malik Farley of the West Demerara Secondary School paced first, and Adriana Teekaram of Leguan Secondary was second place. In Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Michael Joseph and Seon Hamer, both of President’s College, were awarded first and second places, respectively.

Cleshana Wilson and Kelisha McKenzie, both of Belladrum Secondary, were awarded first and second places, respectively, while Kunal Bhupal and Deandre Fullerton, both of New Amsterdam Secondary, gained first and second places, respectively, in the competition.

In Region Seven, Abiot Isaacs and Julin Brown both of D.C. Caesar Fox Secondary placed first and second, respectively. Kellia Douglas and Nicklus Canterbury of Mahdia Secondary School in Region Eight gained first and second, respectively.

Meanwhile, in Region Nine, Nilmar Allicock of Annai Secondary and Joseph Eusebo of Sand Creek Secondary gained first and second places, respectfully. For Region Ten, Ebo Mc Neil of Mackenzie High and Alkila Blucher of Christiansburg Wismar Secondary school were awarded first and second places, respectively.