GUYANA is unique on account of various things about our nation. Our language, history, and bright future all set us apart from the rest of the world. But what truly shapes us is our people. In a land of six races, cultural events are no longer a day for one race and one race only. In Guyana, it has evolved into a celebration of our differences.

August 1st marks emancipation, but the entire month will be filled with various celebrations and events happening all around the country. This week, the Pepperpot Magazine looked at the village of Bagotville, a community built on togetherness and putting the youth first. Community leader, Hazel Williams, shares why the appreciation of each other is still alive and well in the village of Bagotville.

After being a youth officer for over a decade, Hazel Williams has crafted a unique way of dealing with children. Moreover, she has made a name for herself in the community. Known as Miss Hazel, she has been supporting community youths for years and aims to continue. As she stated, “I’ve worked with children for many years, all over the country and in Bagotville. I love to see children learn and grow.”

What also makes Miss Hazel stand out is her adamancy on inclusivity. Throughout the years, Miss Hazel has worked with countless children from different homes and backgrounds. And throughout it all, she has also made it her mission to form relationships with their families. As she explained, “We would organise camps for children, and I would go to the homes of everybody and invite them out, children, mothers, and fathers. I would like to see them or somebody come along with these children because they must be able to know what their children are doing.”

Although she retired from her formal post years ago, Hazel is still set on developing the young people of her community. As she explained, she has started a new camp for young children of Bagotville and surrounding communities. “I have a camp going on from the 12th to the 16th of August. It is for children from Bagotville and whoever else would like to come. I am doing registration right now,” she explained. The camp is among many ongoing initiatives and efforts in the community.

Miss Hazel has always been a champion for togetherness. She has also always been someone who values tradition and the preservation of the past. As she explained, she would like to see more young people involved in traditional practices, among them, drumming. “We started teaching drumming, but not many young people were up to it. But we have to have some sort of coaching and get them to do work and get into it.” She further added, “In Bagotville, we need facilities to get young people more involved in this culture. We need to understand our culture more.”

Bagotville is a large and still growing community. As more people call the village home, more young people are seeking opportunities. People like Miss Hazel and a few others are taking the mantle to educate the village’s youth. This shows that a village is indeed needed to raise a child. Of course, the villagers would like to see more done, especially in the area of culture, wanting to instill an appreciation for tradition in future generations.

Culture is complex, having been made up of bits and pieces from everyone. Miss Hazel believes that one of the reasons why young people have no interest in their roots is because they do not know them, but rather simply observe what they were taught. As she stated, “It’s not that young people do not appreciate their culture; they do not know it. They only celebrate what they came and met.”

However, she urged people to have a more conscious and hands-on approach to celebrating cultural activities, digging deeper and becoming more connected. As she stated, “We are not conscious about our culture because it was not shown to us before. We are moving in it. Our culture mostly goes into the other side in terms of the type of music, the type of clothing, and all the things that other Caribbean people would be able to do. But when it comes to our culture, we really, really need to be conscious.”

Miss Hazel’s vision extends beyond Bagotville. She hopes that their community can serve as a model for other villages across Guyana. Bagotville and Miss Hazel’s tireless efforts serve as a reminder that cultural preservation and unity go hand in hand. As Guyana continues to grow and evolve, communities like Bagotville are leading the way in ensuring that the rich tapestry of Guyanese culture is not only preserved but celebrated for generations to come.