Guyanese youths shine in Chinese Embassy leadership contest

Feb 23, 2025 Features / Columnists, News, Waterfalls Magazine

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By: Christal Yong

Kaieteur News-  The Chinese Embassy was abuzz with excitement and pride as twenty exceptional Guyanese youths stood tall, having earned their place as winners of the fourth China-Guyana Friendship Youth Leadership Development Competition.  These young leaders were celebrated for their achievements in a contest that challenges students not just academically, but also creatively and physically, with an emphasis on community impact. The award ceremony was held on February 14 last.

The competition, a joint effort between the Ministry of Education and the Chinese Embassy, has become a highlight on the calendar for students across all 10 regions of Guyana. But this isn’t just another academic contest. It’s a celebration of well-rounded students who excel in multiple domains: from their leadership skills and artistic talents to their physical endurance and commitment to their communities.

This year, the competition kicked off in March 2024 and spanned nearly a year, with students working diligently on four key areas: a community-based project, a critique of a Guyanese work of art, a physical fitness challenge, and an oral presentation. These activities were designed to develop and showcase the participants’ ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and engage in meaningful community projects.

The winners were not chosen lightly. Each region put forward its top eight students, who were then evaluated based on a rigorous set of criteria. From there, two winners per region emerged, each having displayed exceptional leadership and a genuine commitment to improving their communities. These winners received a prize of US$1,000 for their hard work and dedication.

At the award ceremony, Nicholas Fraser, the Head of the Ministry of Education’s Unit of Allied Arts, addressed the gathering with passion and purpose.

“We wanted to cultivate trustworthy and safe spaces for children to operate and we wanted to offer the youths opportunities to execute meaningful community projects, that will impact there unities and meaningfulness,” he said.

The projects themselves were a testament to the hard work behind the scenes. Students had to conduct surveys, analyze data, and present their findings to the public, demonstrating their ability to tackle real-world challenges.

They also critiqued local works of art, adding a cultural component to the competition. Each student had to produce a creative work of their own, which could be a dance, a song, or even a visual piece of art.

The fitness challenge, a crucial part of the competition, tested the students’ endurance and discipline, with each participant performing the same set of exercises. As they stood on stage in front of their peers, the youths didn’t just showcase what they had learned they demonstrated the strength of character that the competition sought to cultivate.

As Fraser spoke, he underscored a larger mission. He related, “The parties are treated as equal partners, as they engage in communities, as they engage in schools, with their peer groups, their colleagues and … the youth leaders that we have among us today exemplify moral value, intelligence, sports, artistic values and community service.”

He noted that for the youths, it was a chance to step outside their classrooms and apply what they had learned in real-world situations.

They were tasked not only with creating solutions but also with communicating their ideas effectively. Their oral presentations at the ceremony revealed a group of young people ready to take charge, not just in academics, but in leadership roles within their communities.

Since its inception in 2021, the China-Guyana Friendship Youth Leadership Development Competition has grown year after year. Each contest has seen increasing numbers of participants and a greater variety of community projects. But it’s the deep-rooted connections between the Ministry of Education and the Chinese Embassy that have made the competition possible.

“We begin by receiving applicants at the level of the regions, and so among us are many of our regional coordinators, who will help to receive those applicants and we will have a screening process where head teachers, members of society like coaches and other persons will help to rank the persons, who applying for this competition, “Fraser explained.

For the students and their communities, this competition is more than just an event. It’s a movement, a call to action for the youth to rise, lead, and make a difference.

(Guyanese youths shine in Chinese Embassy leadership contest)

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