Simple Joys of Childhood in Guyana

Growing up in Guyana, especially for children who had very little, fun did not come from toys in a box.

It came from the yard, the dam, the street, and whatever the

land offered. Play was simple, creative, and shared. Children gathered

barefoot on dusty ground, laughter rising above the heat, turning ordinary

spaces into playgrounds. One of the most popular games was marbles, often made from

awara seeds. When the awara fruit fell, children collected the hard round seeds

inside. They washed them clean, rubbed them smooth on concrete or stone,

and chose the best ones to play with. Some seeds were heavier and stronger and became shooters,