IN an atmosphere of great excitement, the two-day North Rupununi Wildlife Club festival was launched on Monday, April 14, 2025, under the theme ‘Innovate, Preserve and Protect the Future of our Culture and Nature.’
According to a press release, the opening ceremony was attended by community leaders and villagers, Iwokrama staff and volunteers, members of the diplomatic community, environmental partners and club members.
This Festival brings together over 300 participants with 18 clubs from 16 communities and is the largest community event for youth in the North Rupununi. The first Wildlife Festival was held in 2001.

With an aim to make conservation fun and engaging, featured activities highlight the immense artistic and cultural talent of the North Rupununi youth with a banner and costume parade, art competition, cultural dances, poems, competitive games, environmental quizzes, face painting and more. Clubs also presented their STEM projects on the opening day.

The wildlife clubs, which were founded in early 1998 as a partnership between Iwokrama and North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB), promote a variety of conservation practices among community youth.
These clubs are an important part of introducing hands-on environmental education in aspects related to natural resources management and cultural heritage.

Currently, many Toshaos and village councilors of the North Rupununi communities are former wildlife clubs members, which underscores the immense value of this programme’s impact not only in conservation leadership but leadership as the whole.
“Iwokrama and NRDDB appreciate all the support for the 2025 Wildlife Club Festival including parents and villages leadership, ExxonMobil Foundation, Vanda Radzik and Banks DIH.
“We also appreciate all the organisations that joined to share their experiences including the EMC Foundation, Protected Areas Commission, Conservation International- Guyana, Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission. EMC Foundation also presented educational materials to the Clubs,” the press release stated.

The Wildlife Festival also features traditional activities such as cotton spinning, cassava grating and archery, and will end with a featured Wildlife Costume Pageant.