Bountiful harvests result from Quiko’s use of carbon credit funds for savannah farming while the livelihoods of women and youths experience remarkable development
Akawini and the LCDS 2030
Akawini is the largest Indigenous village in administrative Region 2. It can be found about 105 km from Charity via the Pomeroon River. The village’s 1,300 residents mainly have Carib, Warrau and Arawak roots. For 2023, Akawini got G$ 35,000,000 of Guyana’s carbon credits revenue through the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030. The villagers used their allocation for 10 community-developed projects that would especially benefit the youths of Akawini. The areas of investment are shown in the graph below
Akawini and the LCDS 2030
Akawini’s 2023 developmental projects
Youths’ education and well-being are at the heart of Akawini’s 2023 LCDS projects. At least 130 children are the key beneficiaries of most of the projects. These are a newl
y constructed, equipped, and furnished a kitchen and dining hall for the school’s feeding programme; engine boats
to transport students between their homes and schools; rails to prevent children from falling off a high, winding, and long bridge; and facilities to support recreational
activities, i.e., 3 pavilions with 3 adjoining newly constructed sanitary blocks (a pavilion was constructed, one was extended, and another was enhanced).
In addition to the youth-focused projects mentioned above, Akawini embarked on 2 other projects that targeted the village in a broader sense. These were the distribution of grants to farmers and owners of small businesses and the construction of a boathouse. Importantly, the boathouse stores
the boat that is the village’s water ambulance which is critical for urgent /emergency situations Apart from the projects and benefits mentioned above, the wider community also gained from these developments in the form of 10 employment opportunities within the field of construction.
Youths’ education and well-being are at the heart of Akawini’s 2023 LCDS projects. At least 130 children are the key beneficiaries of most of the projects. These are a newl
y constructed, equipped, and furnished a kitchen and dining hall for the school’s feeding programme; engine boats
to transport students between their homes and schools; rails to prevent children from falling off a high, winding, and long bridge; and facilities to support recreational
activities, i.e., 3 pavilions with 3 adjoining newly constructed sanitary blocks (a pavilion was constructed, one was extended, and another was enhanced).
In addition to the youth-focused projects mentioned above, Akawini embarked on 2 other projects that targeted the village in a broader sense. These were the distribution of grants to farmers and owners of small businesses and the construction of a boathouse. Importantly, the boathouse stores
the boat that is the village’s water ambulance which is critical for urgent /emergency situations Apart from the projects and benefits mentioned above, the wider community also gained from these developments in the form of 10 employment opportunities within the field of construction.
What do residents have to say?
“I have lived in Akawini for 56 years. I do farming and I have a little snackette. I am very thankful for the G$ 50,000 grant that I received to assist me with my small businesses” – Ms Arlene Campbell, Resident
“The LCDS programme is undoubtedly a great initiative. The children received an engine boat which helped to drastically improve their punctuality. They are also more comfortable and safer in the new dining hall” – Mr Albert Gildhary, Senior Master, Akawini Primary School Annex
“My community is really benefitting from the carbon credits. It created jobs within the village. The local skilled workers that I hired to build the boathouse were incredibly happy about the opportunity. This boathouse will extend the service life of our emergency boat that will serve all our people for a longer period” – Ms Heisene Lyota Gurd, Contractor, and Retired Midwife
Akawini’s secret to success and Looking ahead
The low level of water in rivers was a major challenge for the transportation of building materials into Akawini. This was compounded by a shortage of skilled persons within the village to undertake the various construction projects envisioned for the community. Nonetheless, these issues did not prevent the Akawini from promptly completing all its projects. Residents worked together to land the building materials, workers were imported from nearby villages as necessary, contractual agreements were made, and the council conducted vigilant monitoring to ensure the successful implementation of all projects. Akawini’s Toshao is thankful for the novel carbon credit programme and the LCDS 2030. He is especially grateful that students no longer spend 4-6 hours travelling in paddle boats to and from school and for the transfer of technical knowledge and skills to the people of Akawini. The village plans to venture into economic projects like eco-tourism with their 2024 LCDS allocation.
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