In a spirited celebration at the iconic Umana Yana, the EMC Foundation officially launched its much-anticipated Arya Takes a Swim Audio Series and Audiobook on Friday. The project—featuring narration in both English and Arawak—is based on the widely acclaimed children’s book Arya Takes a Swim, and marks a new milestone in marine conservation education in Guyana.
The event, strategically held on World Turtle Day, drew a distinguished gathering of government officials, environmental advocates, educators, and members of Indigenous communities. It underscored a powerful message: that conservation, education, and cultural preservation can be successfully intertwined.
The central character of the series, a green turtle named Arya, pays tribute to First Lady of Guyana, Mrs Arya Ali, who was present and visibly moved by the initiative.
“I commend the EMC Foundation and its partners for this inclusive and imaginative approach to education and conservation,” the First Lady said during her remarks. “You are not only educating our nation’s children; you are empowering them.”
Mrs Ali highlighted how the audiobook speaks directly to causes close to her heart—environmental protection, youth empowerment, and literacy—adding that the project exemplifies the impact of collaboration between government, NGOs, and international partners.
British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller, reaffirmed the UK’s support for sustainable environmental initiatives through its Sustainable Blue Economy Programme.
“We’ve really enjoyed our collaboration with the EMC Foundation,” she stated. “It’s a catalytic and innovative project that brings Guyana’s beauty and the blue economy to life, while emphasising the need for a sustainable and healthy ocean environment.”
Founder and Director of the EMC Foundation, Mr Shyam Nokta, hailed the launch as a pioneering moment—not just for environmental education, but also for linguistic and cultural revitalisation.
“This is Guyana’s first children’s audiobook on turtle tagging and also the first to be available in Arawak,” Nokta said. “Our dream is to see this series on the Ministry of Education’s broadcast channels and in classrooms and Indigenous communities throughout Guyana.”
Fitzroy Sealey, Deputy Commissioner of the Protected Areas Commission, shared recent progress in turtle conservation efforts at Shell Beach and praised the EMC Foundation and Environmental Management Consultants Inc. for their role in the Turtle Telemetry Programme.
Offering a cultural perspective, Toshao of St Cuthbert’s Mission, Mr Alvoro Simon, emphasised the importance of projects like this in preserving Indigenous languages. “We have been facing challenges in maintaining our language. But with the plan to teach Arawak in schools, this project will be pivotal,” he said.
The Arya Takes a Swim Audio Series and Audiobook is inspired by real-life turtle tracking efforts at Shell Beach. Through engaging storytelling and sound design, it encourages children and families to explore the wonders of the marine environment.
Distribution of the audiobook will begin in the coming weeks, with the Ministry of Education supporting its integration into schools and communities across the country. It will also be broadcast via radio, expanding its reach and reinforcing conservation messages nationwide.
The post EMC Foundation launches bilingual ‘Arya Takes a Swim’ audio series and audiobook in celebration of World Turtle Day appeared first on News Room Guyana.
