My knack for youth development led to Vocal Identity Series – Cardel Hunte

Youths in any country embody the future of that country. Youths are not only the frontrunners of tomorrow but also the blessing of today. They have a bubbling enthusiasm, which, if regulated and utilized the right way, can lead a nation to the zenith. 

Cardel Hunte

One exceptional young man who has been leading Guyana with his talent is 20-year-old Cardel Hunte. The 20-year-old is currently on a mission to help persons achieve their sense of purpose and identity. 

Hunte was born on the 30th of May 2000 at the West Demerara Regional Hospital to Maxwell and Shellon Hunte. Cardel grew up in Pouderoyen on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD) with his three other siblings. The young man relayed that his childhood was filled with many adventures. 

I recall most of my weekends visiting my cousins and playing war break in their backyard, picking plums from the neighbours tree, racing with our toy cars in the mud, and pretending we were soldiers with our make-shift wooden guns. This was always something to look forward to as school would most times keep me occupied during the weekdays.

His academic journey began at the Genesis Early Childhood Education Centre from Nursery straight up to Grade Four. He was later transferred to the Winfer Gardens Primary School. He revealed that at Winfer Gardens Primary, he began developing his unique personality and love for singing and public speaking. 

I was granted many opportunities to represent the school at bible club competitions, spelling bees, and singing activities. I remember vividly back in the 5th Grade when the bible club hosted a talent competition, and a few classmates and I came together and worked on a group song, and in the end, we won. It was my first time being exposed to taking the lead of a singing group.

In 2011, he wrote the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and gained a spot at the West Demerara Secondary School, which was no less than a few streets away from his home. He noted that his journey at the West Demerara Secondary was an interesting one, as he tried his best to make his mark before leaving in 2016. 

I remember many bible club activities, choir competitions, and science labs. All in all, I consider that journey, the best I have had.

The young man confessed that his passion for youth development and the development of arts was sparked by his involvement in the 2016 Youth Ambassador Program. The program is a three-week exchange program hosted by the US State Department and World Learning. During that engagement, he was exposed to civic engagement, Leadership, and Youth work. 

In 2017, he completed his first year of sixth form at the St. Stanislaus College then ventured off to the University of Guyana to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations. 

It was at that exact moment also that I got a call that I had been accepted for a job opportunity at my old school (Genesis Early Childhood Education Centre) to fill the vacant post of a Spanish Teacher. Later in that year, I proceeded to use my knowledge of the arts to form an organization that dealt specifically with arts development.

 The Vocal Identity Series (V.I.S)

The young man then launched The Vocal Identity Series (V.I.S). Cardel disclosed that the group’s name was chosen as a blend of the development of vocal talents and the finding of one’s purpose and identity. The group’s motto is, “I am my voice, a unique sound, not an echo.”

The series includes training and development in singing, public speaking, rapping, vocal percussion, poetry, and spoken word and worship singing. 

It was my dream to create a space where artists from all over could come together and learn more themselves as artists and the very talent they possessed. I saw Singers, Public Speakers, Poets, Rappers, and Vocal Percussionists all becoming involved in this series. Everyone was gaining something, and I was pleased.

With his continued service to the arts and other volunteering opportunities, he founded the University of Guyana’s Vocal Affinity Club (U.G V.A.C ) in 2018 and Men’s Action Network (U.G. M.A.N) in 2019. He was also a proud member of the University of Guyana’s Student Council in 2018 as a faculty representative for the Faculty of Social Sciences and Secretary of the Executive Council. 

In 2019, Cardel was granted a scholarship opportunity to study Professional NGO Management at the University of the West Indies’ Open Campus. 

“I am thankful for it as it has helped me become more strategic in planning and managing my organization and helping others who also manage organizations.” 

He continued, “I am currently using every opportunity that I have to better the as I believe with a greater push, Guyanese talent can be recognized even more on the global platform. And that would be my most favourite thing about Guyana, the rich presence of powerful talent.” 

This astonishing singer credits his success to the Almighty God, whom he said, has put him into the place he is today. 

To my family for their unwavering support throughout my journey, all of my past and present teachers for instilling good morals and values and ensuring I always stayed on the right path and every person who has trusted me with leadership, an opportunity and who has given me a chance.

Cardel aspires to create his own Academy of Arts, which will focus on all forms of creative arts. He hopes that it will be an accredited institute where dreams can be achieved and careers can be followed. He is also publishing his first book, which is based on principles to living a purposeful life. 

It is titled ‘I Dare Me’; it dares the average person to live life in a way that serves them with happiness, self-fulfillment, and the achievement of dreams, goals, and purpose.