Recover Guyana unveils QC’s ‘Cycle Smart Environmental Project’

Recover Guyana, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and with support from ExxonMobil Guyana, has introduced the Queen’s College Cycle Smart Project, the winning environmental initiative of the SHOUT National Secondary School Environmental Speech Competition 2025 (SHOUT 3.0).

Now in its third year, SHOUT continues to demonstrate the impact of youth-led
environmental action by empowering secondary school students to develop practical solutions to real environmental challenges within their schools.

The Queen’s College Cycle Smart Project was conceptualised and presented by the 2025 Youth Environmental Speaker, Anushka Singh, who won this year’s national SHOUT 3.0 title in June. As part of her award, she secured a GYD 1 million grant for Queen’s College to implement her proposal. With its launch, her vision moves from planning to full implementation, marking another milestone in the evolution of student-driven sustainability projects across Guyana.

The Queen’s College Cycle Smart Project aims to position the school as a model of environmental stewardship. The initiative introduces colour-coded waste-segregation bins across corridors, and common areas to promote proper disposal, recycling and composting. It responds to growing concerns about pollution on campus caused by inadequate waste-management practices.

The project creates an efficient waste-collection and recycling system that reduces pollution, supports sustainability and strengthens environmental awareness among students and staff. By ensuring all waste is correctly sorted, composted or recycled, this project will lower the school’s ecological footprint and foster responsible habits within the student body.

Expected outcomes include a cleaner, healthier campus, the production of nutrient-rich compost for use in the school’s garden, and greater student engagement in sustainability efforts. Direct beneficiaries include Agricultural Science students, who will use the compost as a natural fertiliser, while the wider school community will gain from a more environmentally conscious learning environment.

This latest initiative builds on the growing legacy of SHOUT. In previous years, winning initiatives included a Water Purification and Sustainability Project (SHOUT 1.0), which significantly reduced single-use plastic bottle waste, and a Hydroponic Kitchen Garden System (SHOUT 2.0), which introduced responsible farming practices and hands-on agricultural learning. These successes set the foundation for SHOUT’s continued impact and reinforce the programme’s role in fostering environmental leadership across Guyana.

Dr. Omesh Balmacoon, Co-Founder and First Vice-President of Recover Guyana, emphasised “At Recover Guyana, we believe that when young people are empowered, they become catalysts for national transformation. The Cycle Smart Project is another powerful reminder that our students are not just learning about sustainability; they are leading it. We are proud to champion programs like SHOUT that give young environmental leaders the platform, the resources and the confidence to turn bold ideas into lasting, positive change for Guyana.”

Chricell Whitney, Waste Management Lead at ExxonMobil Guyana, expressed strong support for the Cycle Smart Initiative, noting its alignment with the company’s commitment to sustainability. “One of ExxonMobil’s fundamental goals is to protect the environment. The Cycle Smart Initiative is an important step towards empowering communities to better understand waste management and take meaningful action,” Whitney said.

“This initiative is about raising awareness and building habits that will shape the future of waste management in Guyana, and we are proud to support efforts that encourage responsible environmental stewardship.”

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, noted that while people often copy trends, it is far more meaningful when those trends contribute to the sustainability of our lives and livelihoods. She added, “If we can inspire young people to follow trends that protect our environment and strengthen our communities, then we are shaping a better future for everyone. Today, Anuskha is helping this school and nearly 1,000 children rethink what they want their communities to look like, and in doing so, she is driving sustainable change.”

Recover Guyana remains committed to supporting young environmental leaders as they transform innovative ideas into impactful action. Through SHOUT, the organisation continues to promote youth empowerment and strengthen Guyana’s journey towards a more sustainable future.