GREEN CAREER TALKS

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The Green Screen Environmental Film Festival is back for its 15th year, with this year's theme, "Connect", focusing on the crucial ties between people, communities, and the environment.  One highlight of the festival, the Green Career Talks, gave students a fresh perspective on the growing potential of agricultural innovation as a career path.  Josette Deonanan has more in this report.

Transcript

00:00For many students, the Green Korea Talks provided more than just an opportunity to watch films.

00:06It opened their eyes to careers they had never even considered.

00:09Students from Marbala North Secondary School shared their thoughts after viewing Land May,

00:14a short film highlighting how St. Lucian's turned to sea moss farming during the COVID-19

00:18pandemic as a way to generate income.

00:20Land May is to start like with the moss farming.

00:25I really like that idea because it utilizes both sea and land to make not only a living

00:31for people who may not have financial stability, but it also brings in income for an issue.

00:38This could also help really diversify each country.

00:43So basically like how Jamaica is known for their coffee, right?

00:49I wanna like nice coffee here, right?

00:53And Trinidad is known for their calypso.

00:55This is how we could really stand out and we could use all these little ideas that we

01:02may bring up along the way, right, that not only may help the environment, but also help

01:08us stand out more.

01:10And this is my thoughts.

01:11Land May, which means sea moss in St. Lucian Patois, focused on how by harvesting and selling

01:16this valuable resource, individuals demonstrated innovation and local knowledge to turn a challenge

01:22into a thriving opportunity.

01:23The message wasn't lost in students either, many of whom said they now see agriculture

01:28and sustainability as viable career paths.

01:31Yes, in a way I'm more open-minded to agricultural sectors that I haven't looked into before.

01:38So yeah, I would say it opened my mind.

01:40Also featured during the event was the story of Dareem Jeffrey, a 28-year-old entrepreneur

01:45from Moruga.

01:46After losing everything in the 2018 flooding disaster, Jeffrey used a $15,000 government

01:52assistant grant to create EcoWash, the Caribbean's first water conservation car wash.

01:57EcoWash, which guarantees a clean car with just two liters of water, has grown from just

02:02$70,000 in its initial revenue to $400,000 annually.

02:08But for Jeffrey, it's not just about profit.

02:10It's about creating jobs and expanding sustainable practices across Trinidad and Tobago.

02:16This one can wash about three cars before you need to refill it.

02:19We actually adapted it where it's now solar-powered so we can give it to places in Africa who

02:23does not have electricity.

02:26Jeffrey's innovative approach has earned him numerous accolades, including the highest

02:29award from the Environmental Management Authority and first place in the Creative Young Entrepreneur

02:34competition for the Americas and the Caribbean.

02:37The event highlights the work of SustainTT, which uses film to raise awareness about environmental

02:42and climate issues.

02:43Organizers say their goal is to inspire the next generation to see agriculture and sustainability

02:49not just as challenges, but as opportunities to innovate.

02:52Josette Deonanan, TV6 News.

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