The EMA’s Dramatic Envirologue wins students’ hearts
With a compelling dramatic monologue and only two light bulb props, Shahad Ali, a
sixth form student of Trinity College (Moka), won first place in the EMA’s Secondary
Schools’ Dramatic Envirologue Competition 2008. The finals and prize giving ceremony,
which was held on Thursday February 28th at the Rudranath Capildeo Learning Resource
Center, Couva, was filled with electrifying dramatic performances - all dedicated to
Climate Change.
Since the start of the competition in January, Education Officer at the EMA, Nadia
Nanan, believes that if the students were not genuinely interested before, over the course
of the competition, they developed into passionate speakers on the environment.
The Corporate Relations and Public Education Department also facilitated drama
workshops to the 40 competitors to assist in building confidence, diction and clarity,
stage presence, as well as to learn more on the climate change issues that they will bring
to life. According to Nanan, “The workshops were successful as there were obvious
improvements in performances and dramatic interpretation from the preliminaries to the
finals. The workshops also helped as they peaked the students’ interests… you just can’t
escape the learning aspect of the competition.”
In her feature address, The Minister of State, Senator The Honourable Tina GronlundNunez, also applauded the EMA for its ongoing commitment to their public education
programme. “It is hoped that this competition would contribute to a change in practices,
attitudes and values and make a positive change to our local and global environment.”
The first prize of $1000 and the distinguished Pawi Award went to Shahad Ali.
Dressed as a scientist, Ali performed his piece with impressive stage presence and
confidence. His performance was based on the topic, The Carbon in my footprint…
recognizing our individual, community, social, corporate and national responsibility in
the issue of climate change.
Pajama-clad Laura Roberts of Iere High School took second place as she told her teddy
bear a bedtime story based on her chosen topic, How important is eco-tourism to
Trindad and Tobago and what are the impacts on the environment?
Dressed and made up in a black and white, Arielle Moore of St. Stephen’s College placed
third with her riveting presentation of her topic, From oil to water…what will be the
cause of the next big war?
Fourth place went to Winsie Ann Cuffie who placed second in last year’s competition.
Cuffie, who hails from Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School, portrayed Mother
Trinidad as she delivered her piece on - Sustainable land development, Earthquake
resistant towns, Secure hurricane shelters – Are we disaster prepared?
(L-R): President of the Wild Fowl Trust, Molly Gaskin; Manager, Corporate Relations
and Public Education at the EMA, Dr. Yvette Guy and Minister of State, Senator The
Honourable Tina Gronlund-Nunez of the Ministry of Planning, Housing and the
Environment share a light moment outside the R.C. LRC at the finals of the EMA’s
Secondary Schools’ Dramatic Envirologue Competition 2008.
Her Excellency, Dr. Jean Ramjohn-Richards delivering her greetings at the competition
finals.
The winning group. (L-R) Second place winner, Laura Roberts of Iere High School;
Molly Gaskin, President of the Wild Fowl Trust; First place winner and recipient of the
Pawi Award, Shahad Ali of Trinity College (Moka); Third place winner, Arielle Moore
of St. Stephen’s College and the EMA’s CEO, Dr. Dave McIntosh.
First place winner, Shahad Ali, argues about the carbon in our footprint in his awardwinning performance.
Pajama-clad Laura Roberts of Iere High School took second place in the EMA’s
Dramatic Envirologue 2008.
Hailing from St. Stephen’s College, Arielle Moore’s thought provoking monologue, won
her third place.