IN a bid to combat plastic bottle waste and promote sustainability, Vasanna Persaud, winner of Recover Guyana’s Shout Competition, and Guyana’s National Youth Environmental Speaker has launched her water purification project within her school premises.
Persaud, having proposed her project in the first phase of the Shout Competition in 2023 on behalf of her school, Queen’s College, eventually emerged victorious and claimed the rights to the title as Guyana’s Top Youth Environmental Speaker.
According to a press release, her initiative marks a significant step forward in the fight against environmental degradation and possibly one which can be emulated across schools in Guyana.
The project, which received a grant from Recover Guyana as part of the prize package for the winner and her school, established a sophisticated water purification and cooling system on the grounds of Queen’s College.
This system converts ordinary tap water into a clean, refreshing source of hydration, available to students, teachers, and visitors throughout the day. By offering an alternative to bottled water, the refill station not only promotes health and well-being but also reduces the school’s dependence on single-use plastics.
The launch held at Queen’s College and attended by representatives including Dr. Omesh Balmacoon, Secretary of Recover Guyana, and Ms. Kumarie Lall, Headteacher of Queen’s College, as well as Persaud’s parents, Dr. and Mrs. Persaud, showcased the tangible impact of her visionary project.
Supported by Recover Guyana, the initiative underscores the potential for collaboration among youth, academia, and environmental advocacy groups in effecting positive change.
Dr. Omesh Balmacoon praised Persaud’s initiative, highlighting its role in fostering environmental stewardship among Guyana’s youth.
“Projects like Vasanna’s show that simple ideas can be brought to life to make big differences in the lives of others while at the same time protecting and preserving our planet,” Dr. Balmacoon remarked.
Ms. Lall commended Persaud’s dedication and leadership, emphasising the project’s potential to promote sustainable habits among students.
“Vasanna’s project is a testament to the power of youth-driven initiatives in creating a more sustainable future,” Ms. Rajkumar said.
Accompanied by her parents, Persaud expressed gratitude for the opportunity to enact change within her school community.
“I am honoured to have been selected as the winner of Recover Guyana’s Shout competition,” said Persaud.
Recover Guyana has announced that it will be launching Shout 2.0 in April of this year, preparing another youth environmental champion to make impacts needed to create a better planet for the future.
