How one young woman from Bethany says her upbringing shaped her
LIFE across Guyana varies from place to place. Each community has its own unique cultural and regional traditions and ways of life. Everyone’s childhood is unique, whether it is the fast-paced nature of life in Georgetown or the serenity of living along the Cornetyne. The creeks and vast forest of Bethany present a refreshing atmosphere. Tucked miles away in the Supenaam Creek, life in Bethany is defined by traversing waterways like roads in a community where logging and agriculture are a way of life. Jemima Wilson was born and raised in the village of Bethany. The surrounding forest and the sounds of nature are familiar to her. Jemima says her upbringing in Bethany did more than impact her; it shaped the person she is.

Growing up in a village where nature reigns supreme, Jemima aspires to work towards preserving the flora and fauna she knew as a child. Constantly immersed in the natural beauty of her home, Bethany’s natural diversity never went unnoticed by her. Today, she attends the Guyana School of Agriculture with the ambition of entering the veterinary field. Bethany is highly praised for its untouched reservoir of natural resources. Jemima seeks to keep it that way.“I would describe Bethany as a peaceful, quiet community. It is a close-knit community, and the people get along well,” she said during her interview with the Pepperpot magazine.

Jemima’s childhood seems more reminiscent of a summer holiday, filled with swimming, climbing trees and running through the forest. “Growing up in Bethany was truly nice. There are a lot of fun times I could remember. We have a lot of creeks, so we normally swim a lot and we enjoy the outdoors and the adventures in nature.” Jemima remembers many days filled with exploration deep among the trees surrounding the Supenaam Creek. Bethany’s children have truly unique experiences of living amidst Guyana’s beauty. The 24-year-old began her education in the village. She attended Bethany’s nursery and then primary school. From that point on, she ventured out of the village to further her education.

Challenges with travel are among the biggest woes people of the community express. It is still a big issue the village’s council is working on resolving. With the implementation of boating services, the village is striving towards better accessibility and has already done so with boats designated for the village’s children. This is a recent endeavour however and Jemima had to find alternatives during her years of schooling. As she explained, “I went to school on the Essequibo coast when I stayed at the dorms for five years, and I attended Aurora secondary school.”

Although her years in high school were memorable, and she yielded great results, she remembers missing her family. Being away from her family for the first time was stressful and created a lot of uncertainty for the then-young Jemima. She explained that, “The most challenging thing about going to school on the coast was being away from home. I had to stay in the dorms because of the transportation money.” Finding employment fresh out of high school is a challenge many young people can relate to. However, coupled with the uncertainty about what she wanted to do, Jemima spent a few years developing her skills and exploring opportunities outside of Bethany.

In 2022, a few years after graduating from high school, Jemima was still unsure about what her future entailed. “A couple of years passed since I graduated from high school. I did some training here and there. But I was thinking about something that I really wanted to do.” Jemima further added that she sought out something for which she truly had a passion. “I realised I love and have a passion for plants and animals.” This realisation sparked her ambitions to become a veterinarian. However, although she had the passion and drive, there was still much that had to be done in order to enter the field she aspired to be in. “I love animals and I wanted to become a vet. But when I applied, I did not have the subjects they wanted. I was told a diploma in agriculture would be good. It deals with both plants and animals, and I love both. So I decided to go for it.”

Jemima is in the final stages of completing her diploma. She returns to her village of Bethany at every opportunity. Most recently, she returned during the Easter holiday to help support her family by working in the community. She has big hopes for the future, and her family supports her decisions. Despite the countless animals the village has, Bethany currently does not have a veterinarian. From pet parrots to lizards, animals are spotted in every corner of Bethany. Jemima believes that, to some extent, growing up in Bethany played a big role in her love and appreciation for animals. Growing up immersed in the beauty of Bethany and venturing outside to see how that beauty could be destroyed made her appreciate her home and gave her the challenge of preserving the pristine aura and captivating wildlife Bethany had given rise to.