Guyana (2013)
Guyana (2013)
Guyana, originally spelt by the Indigenous population as “Guiana,” meaning land of water— fittingly is the place of Kaieteur Falls, the world largest single-drop waterfall, echoing the country’s deep connection to nature.
Geographically located in South America yet culturally part of the Caribbean, Guyana carries a layered history of British, Dutch, and French colonization. Through all its hardships, both past and present, the resilience of its people shines through its national motto: One People, One Nation, One Destiny" [A snippet of one of my digital journal entries].
A photo taken of me by a colleague in 2013 during a canvassing of environmental and human-caused degradation to the beaches
My initiatives in Guyana have spanned education, conservation, and cultural preservation. I have worked in orphanages across the country, offered tutoring sessions in local schools, and collaborated with NGOs focused on protecting Amazonian biodiversity—advocating against deforestation and illegal poaching.
I have also supported local Indigenous community organizations working to safeguard Indigenous community members and their knowledge systems, ensuring that Guyana’s rich heritage continues.
Greetings from a Yellow-Crowed Amazon Parrot, while volunteering with locals in Amazon Rainforest-related initiatives
A highlight that will always give me goosebumps in Guyana was hearing the stories from elders told to them from their elders (some of them my ancestors) about their memories and 'dream connections' to their birth locations across India, Africa, China and Europe. Stories vivid in detail; riveting with emotions; and lived histories that deeply shape the larger fabric of the country through each inhabitant.