Child Month Committee Extends Deadline for Essay and Poster Competitions

The National Child Month Committee (NCMC) has extended the deadline for the submission of entries for its annual essay and poster competition to Friday, July 31.
Vice Chair of the NCMC and co-ordinator of the competitions, Sandrea Long- White, told JIS News that the deadline was originally scheduled for the end of May, “but because of the demand and the fact that a lot of persons, who wanted to compete, didn’t get the chance to, we have extended this date to Friday, July 31.”
The fourth annual competition is open to children between six and 18 years old and is being staged under the theme: ‘Promoting Peace for a Safe and Healthy Environment’.
The essay segment, which is being staged in collaboration with the Dispute Resolution Foundation, consists of four age categories – 6 to 9; 10 to 12; 13 to 15 and 16 to 18.
Entrants in the 6 to 9 age group will write on the topic: ‘What Peace Means to Me’; the 10 to12 age group will respond to the question: ‘What is a Peaceful, Safe and Healthy Environment?’; while those in the 13 to15 and 16 to18 age categories, will focus on the issue: ‘A Safe and Peaceful Environment for Everyone’.
The poster competition will be contested in the 6 to 10; 11 to 14 and 15 to 18 age categories and entrants will be required to make submissions highlighting the theme: ‘Promoting Peace for a Safe and Healthy Environment’.
Mrs. Long-White told JIS News that entrants will be well rewarded for their hard work. “We have some exciting prizes, cash awards, trophies and plaques and medals. In the past we have collaborated with the Edna Manley School of the Visual and Performing Arts and they have supported us with scholarships. We have different prizes such as gift and meal vouchers, and different companies donate a variety of things towards this, so our winners have a lot to look forward to,” she pointed out.
The awards ceremony is slated for September 18 at Alhambra Inn, and the top performers in the essay competition, will have a chance to win even more prizes in a reading competition, which will be held then.
“At the awards ceremony, the first, second and third place winners of each category of the essay competition will read their essays and a winner will be selected from each category. This is sponsored by Veteran Broadcaster, Fae Ellington, and a cash award will be given,” Mrs. Long-White informed.
Entries for the competitions should be sent to the Rural Services for Children with Disabilities, 94J Old Hope Road or to Vivienne DaCosta at the Dispute Resolution Foundation, 5 Camp Road.
Although Child Month is celebrated in May, the NCMC has activities scheduled throughout the year. These include a community service award, a youth forum and children’s treat. For more information, persons may call the Rural Services for Children with Disabilities at 978-2092, or the Dispute Resolution Foundation at 908-3657.