— students turn ideas into sustainability, education projects

SIXTEEN young Guyanese have been recognised for their achievements in the China-Guyana Friendship Youth Leadership Development (YLD) Competition, with participants using the initiative to develop practical projects addressing issues within their schools and communities.
The students received their awards during the fifth awards ceremony for the initiative, which challenges participants in four areas: a physical challenge, a community-based project, a critique of a work of art and an oral presentation.
Among this year’s awardees was President’s College student Romario Wolfe, who used his community project to transform an underutilised section of his school through sustainable landscaping.
“My project aims to improve an underused area of my school by planting ornamental flowers in this garden. I wanted to make this space more attractive, but also show how creative reuse can support sustainability, learning and student responsibility,” Wolfe explained.
The project incorporated discarded tyres and plants to transform the space while demonstrating how materials commonly regarded as waste can be reused.
Wolfe said one of the lessons from the project was that improving the environment does not always require expensive resources.
Instead, he said, meaningful changes can begin with materials already available.
“It shows students that sustainability can involve using materials we already have in creative reuse. Instead of only learning about reuse and recycling, students can also see an example of reuse in their own environment,” Wolfe said.
He explained that the project also demonstrates that sustainability is not simply something students have to discuss in the classroom, but can be practised in their everyday surroundings.
LEARNING OUTSIDE CLASSROOM
Wolfe said the addition of plants and repurposed tyres brought colour and structure to the previously overlooked area while leaving room for further development.

“Students spend most of their days at school, so the appearance of the surroundings matters. A well-kept space can also encourage students to feel proud of their school and dedicated work,” he said.
According to Wolfe, improving the environment is therefore not simply about making the school more attractive, but creating spaces to which students feel connected.
He also highlighted the educational value of the project, explaining that planting, watering and observing plants can provide practical lessons across several subject areas.
Students can learn about plant growth and maintenance through agriculture, explore colour and creativity through art and design, use measurements and calculations through mathematics, and discuss environmental responsibility through social studies.
Wolfe also stressed that students have a responsibility to maintain the spaces by watering plants, removing weeds and keeping the surroundings clean.
“When students are given an opportunity to create and care for their environment, they can move from simply being users of the school to becoming caretakers of it,” he said.
“To conclude, this project shows that a small change can have several benefits.”
MAKING MATHS ENGAGING
Former YLD participant and Guyana’s 2026 top Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) performer Nitya Narine was also present at the ceremony and reflected on how the competition influenced her own development.
As part of her community project at Tagore Memorial Secondary School, Narine conducted a study to better understand students’ attitudes towards mathematics.
Her research found that 70 per cent of the students surveyed had failed their previous mathematics tests, 22 per cent did not participate in their mathematics classes and 66 per cent believed the subject was not important.
At the same time, Narine discovered that some students enjoyed solving puzzles and participating in hands-on activities.
Those findings led her to develop mathematics kits for classes at her school.
The kits included puzzles created by Narine, mathematical sets, Rubik’s cubes, jigsaw puzzles, mathematical problems and markers.
“My goal was to encourage students to develop a greater appreciation for mathematics by making learning more interactive, enjoyable and engaging,” Narine said.
“This project taught me that even a small initiative, guided by a genuine desire to help others, can create opportunities for positive change.”
The China-Guyana Friendship YLD Competition targets students in Grades Eight, Nine and 10 and is supported by the Ministry of Education’s Unit of Allied Arts.
Through its combination of academic, physical, community and presentation challenges, the initiative is designed to strengthen participants’ leadership, civic, academic and interpersonal skills.