Copyright trinidadexpress
“Change starts with us.” It’s a phrase often repeated in classrooms and assemblies, but for Gabrielle Khemkaran, it’s more than words. As Trinidad and Tobago’s first Youth Environmental Ambassador, she is turning that motto into climate action, and inspiring other young people to follow her lead. Through the KinergyPower Youth for Impact programme, a global initiative that empowers students to take part in verified eco-actions such as community clean-ups and recycling drives, Gabrielle earned the prestigious Kinergy Coins (KNGY), a clean-impact currency like traditional cryptocurrency, which she received for creating climate-positive activities. Gabrielle’s role as Trinidad’s first Ambassador gives the programme a local champion and a role model for other students across the country. In an interview with the Express, Gabrielle explained the power of the KNGY Coin. “The Kinergy Coin is a digital token designed to promote environmental sustainability. It rewards individuals and organisations for generating clean energy or performing verified eco-friendly actions such as recycling, planting trees, or reducing carbon emissions,” she said. She explained that the system uses “Proof of Energy” to track renewable energy production and “Proof of Impact” to verify positive environmental and social contributions. The Kinergy Coin, she said, is used as an incentive, encouraging wider participation in green initiatives and helps reduce harm to the environment and ultimately support cleaner energy production and a more sustainable planet. A CAPE Unit 2 student at Holy Faith Convent, Port of Spain, Gabrielle has already made her mark in environmental advocacy. “Upon completion of sustainable tasks, like a beach clean-up or recycling collections, organisations are rewarded with the coin, which can be bought by sponsors to fund projects or equipment for the development of the organisation. This encourages people and organisations to take real action for the environment by rewarding them for producing clean energy or reducing pollution,” Gabrielle said. Gabrielle’s aim is to see reduced litter and pollution in Trinidad and Tobago. “I hope to see changes and improvements with regard to the state of the environment, that is, a reduction of pollution and litter. I would also like to see more long-term initiatives that involve the youth directly, encouraging them to make a difference in their community and country,” Gabrielle said. After completing CAPE, Gabrielle plans to pursue a degree in Chemical and Process Engineering but says her passion for environmental issues will always remain central to her path. “I currently study Environmental Science at CAPE level and I am involved within NPOs that are environmentally centred,” she said. The KNGY Coin was developed by Kinergy Power, a company with patents and partnerships in kinetic energy harvesting. The Express also spoke with Stefanos Horianopoulos, the company’s Canadian co-founder, who runs the business with his Trinidadian wife. “We introduced the coin, which is mined by making environmental impact. One of our programmes was designed to motivate schoolchildren to help the environment. Once they become aware, it becomes part of their lifestyle. Gabrielle stood out through her school clean-up initiatives, so we nominated her to be the ambassador in Trinidad.” He said the initiative allows schools to benefit financially from their environmental efforts. “Every time someone does something good for the environment, a coin can be minted. Schools can collect these coins, and companies that want to offset their carbon emissions can buy them from the schools. This way, schools can fund projects like installing solar panels, so it’s a win-win for everyone,” Horianopoulos said. He added that Kinergy Power is working to establish the programme in schools globally. “We’ve started in Toronto, but I wanted T&T to be part of the early rollout since my wife is from there. I’ve spent a lot of time in T&T and know it’s the perfect place to motivate young people,” he said. For Horianopoulos, the project also comes from a personal place. “Trinidad and Tobago are beautiful islands. My wife and I sail and travel a lot, and we see too much trash in the ocean, even around pristine islands covered in plastic bottles and toys. We wanted to do something to make a difference, and the utility coin aligned perfectly with that goal.”
