AMBITION is oftentimes one of the defining characteristics the older generation cites as the difference between their era and current times. However, young people like Timon Charles are seeking to change the narrative. A vibrant nineteen-year-old from the community of Free and Easy on the West Bank of Demerara spoke to Pepperpot Magazine about why he wants to be independent and how he plans to get there.
Timon, a jovial and welcoming young man, says his love for hard work began in his youth. Free and Easy, just a few years ago, was a rural community with few roads and even fewer people; his childhood in the village was anything but exciting.
However, true to the spirit of the Guyanese countryside, most of Timon’s childhood days were spent on his father’s farm. Hours spent tending to plantain, banana, and pineapple crops instilled the importance of work. Schooling was also a difficult task at the time. “From nursery to primary school up until grade four or five, I walked the mile and a half to school,” he explained.
Timon said that, at the time, and even looking back now, his challenges with walking to school did not seem as difficult. He says that is perhaps owed to his time spent farming since he could walk. “I guess it was not hard because I grew up in farming, going on the farm since I was about three or four.”
He shared that community values also played a role in enriching his childhood, and they still do today. Growing up, most work done in the community was done in groups. Families would go to the farm, and friends would walk to school together. The support offered by friends and family made for happy memories. As Timon recounted, “Those days were nice. A lot of us would walk to school together, so we had fun. And then I would go to the farm with my brothers. Those were nice times.”
As the youngest of his four brothers, Timon was quick to pick up the pace to keep up with his older brothers. As much as it was interesting and challenging being the youngest, his family has done plenty to shape his ambitious endeavours. As he stated, “I am the youngest of four brothers. At the time when I was going to school and so on, it was me alone. Later on, when I got older, my brother would pick me up. But I had gotten used to walking and farming by then.”
Agriculture still plays a vital role in Timon’s life today, and he says he enjoys farming. Farming is not a sector or profession in which many youths are invested. Timon, however, feels differently. “I like farming. We have a farm that we travel to by boat. It is hard work, but I still enjoy it. My father, brothers, and I still do agriculture,” he stated. Although Free and Easy has recently seen a shift towards a more business-oriented trajectory, Timon is still a lover of agriculture.
Additionally, Timon and his brothers are involved in the industrial side of things happening in the community. “Sometimes, my brothers and I work on our truck. We do a lot of things, but we still farm. We have a farm next to the oil and gas project too.” Timon has managed to perfect a balancing act that many people in Free and Easy are currently working towards. Agriculture continues to thrive alongside modern changes and development.
Timon hopes to continue working the way he does. Coming from an incredibly work-oriented family, he says working independently is his goal. Talking about his family, he shared that, “None of my other brothers went into agriculture. I was the only one that stuck with it. One of them is a civil engineer and the other is an electrical engineer. And another one is a welder.”
Ambition is something that seems to run deep in the family. Timon explained that the hustle and bustle involved in developing oneself has always played a major role for his family. Moving forward, he hopes to develop a business of his own. His goal is to be independent. As he shared, “I feel like working by yourself is way better than working with other people. That is the main thing for me. I like working by myself.”
Timon is one of many young people with big dreams. He says that although many young people may not see the appeal in work, especially in agriculture, community and family values definitely played a role in his ambition. He says his community is undergoing change, and although the name says Free and Easy, hard work and ambition are a must.
