Chapter Thirty Nine: GuyExpo 2025

We spent a couple of days at GuyExpo and it really was exactly what the name promises. All things Guyana, all things Expo, and a little bit of absolutely everything in between. I have been to a bunch of conservation-focused events since getting here and we have visited markets and smaller community gatherings, but this one felt like the big one. It was easily the most visited event I have seen so far, and it had that energetic mix of people, food, noise, and surprises that made it feel like a miniature version of the entire country packed into one place.

It was this complete mashup of vendors. You had incredible food, small businesses, big companies, cell phone providers, construction booths, and then, oddly enough, pillows. Pillows were somehow the star of the show. Every second person seemed to be walking around with a pillow tucked under their arm. I was laughing about it with my colleagues because the pillow selection here is not as huge as what we have back home, so when people find a good one, it is like discovering a treasure. I will admit I also started thinking about getting a better pillow for myself so I completely understand the appeal. When the value proposition hits, it hits.

We were there with the Protected Areas Trust team and were back in conservation mode. The difference this time is that we had the Animals of the Protected Areas Project fully set up and available for sale. That meant we had to shift a little from purely awareness and education to something that felt more like an actual sales pitch. Usually, when we do events, the goal is to explain conservation, introduce people to the work we do, and help people understand the bigger story. At GuyExpo, it was a mix because our products are not just toys or souvenirs. Each one is tied to protecting wildlife, supporting Indigenous communities, and raising awareness. So our conversations turned into these small storytelling sessions. It is not as fast as selling snacks or handmade crafts where you can point and say here is the item and here is the price. We wanted people to understand that buying one of these animals means they are joining conservation work in Guyana.

We were also one of the only conservation organizations there. This stood out because Indigenous artisans were selling their work and there were many local businesses, but no one else was doing the kind of wildlife and biodiversity outreach that we do. That made us a bit unique and also reminded me that most of our financial support usually comes from international donors. GuyExpo made me think more seriously about how local businesses could get involved and how we can create new spaces for people here to support conservation directly. People want to play a role and we need to make that easier.

I spent two out of the four event days at our booth and probably talked to every possible type of visitor. We asked people about animals, biodiversity, conservation, the forests they visit, and the species they know. A lot of people had never seen the animals in person, so there was plenty of conversation about why these crafts matter and how they connect to ecosystems. A few people recognized the project because we released a video on it a couple of weeks ago and that was honestly very encouraging. It is easy to forget that the work you put out into the world actually lands somewhere and someone watches it. Hearing that people had seen it and were excited about the project felt like a little burst of fuel for the team.

I also did a bit of vendor-to-vendor networking. Early in the day, when things were slower, we would chat with the neighbouring booths and learn about what they do. Since we were placed in the Tourism Village thanks to the support of the Guyana Tourism Authority, we ended up beside people from across the country working in very different fields. A few of them already had ideas for partnership opportunities. We will see where that goes, but it was a good reminder that conservation connects to everything and that people are more open to being involved than we sometimes assume.

And because my brain can never turn off the marketing switch, I paid attention to how the event itself was promoted. I thought the marketing was strong. My own circles are obviously biased since I follow most tourism and conservation content, but even beyond that, the level of turnout showed that the message reached every kind of audience. Locals, international visitors, families, students, groups of friends going for an evening out, older generations, and people who just wanted something to do on a weeknight. It felt like a very balanced four-corner event and it is always good to see that kind of broad outreach succeed. So credit to the teams behind it and to Tourism Guyana for supporting us throughout.

The Good
One of the absolute highlights was the food, specifically from a vendor called Sana Surinamese Food. I tried soups, pastries, fried rice, and chow mein, and everything was fantastic. I am already planning when I can try more of their Surinamese dishes.

The Challenge
The challenge this week was honestly just the exhaustion. Doing two long evenings at GuyExpo on top of a regular work week takes a toll. I loved meeting people and being part of the event, but by the time it wrapped up, I could feel the tiredness hit all at once.

What is Next
Next week we have some upcoming trainings with Cuso and the PAT team and I am excited for them. It will be good to shift back into more education and skills sharing.