IDB Cultural Development Program 2014 has partnered with the Amerindian Village of Paruima, Region Seven to preserve the cultural heritage and values of the native Arecuna language through a US$5000 grant.
A release from the IDB said that the grant will support a community project titled “Preserving the intangible cultural heritage of Paruima Village”.
This project will support the preservation of the native Arecuna language by transferring it to children between the ages of four to eleven years old, the release said.
The release added that the Cuyuni/Mazaruni village believes that their language is a critical part of their cultural identity and heritage.
“The project is therefore, a collaboration between the IDB and the village to promote knowledge transfer of the language before it reaches a critical stage of no return”, the release said. The project will target 150 children and will have the service of village elders as resource teachers to help to close the generational gaps between speaking and understanding the language.
The release said that the IDB is the only international financial institution with a cultural center devoted to the promotion of cultural and creative expressions within Latin America and the Caribbean artistic heritage.
Since the establishment of the IDB Cultural Center in 1992, it said that sixteen institutions in Guyana have benefited from this grant. This grant is awarded on a yearly basis to innovative projects for technical training in art, culture, music and theatre instruction for educators.
For more information and guidelines about the Cultural Development in Field Program interested persons can visit the website: http://www.iadb.org/cultural or uplift documentation at IDB Office 47 High Street, Kingston or email the bank at: IDBGuyana@iadb.org.
