News
Essay Contest for Children and Young People of African Descent
(August 21, 2012)For those of you who have participated in the annual Essay Contest for Children of African Descent in previous years, it’s that time of the year again when I ask "Can I count on your support as a Judge again?"
If you have been a Judge before no need to complete the Registration form - simply reply to this email "Count me in" or "Not this time". If you are able to contribute to the prizes, please let me know what amount you are able to offer. To take the pressure of the handful of friends who contribute towards the prizes, …… with a lot of wishful thinking, hopefully this will be the last year I ask people to contribute towards the prizes.
This email is also sent out to Africans who have expressed an interest in being a Judge and whom I had told I would add them to the list and contact closer to the time.
The annual Essay Contest for Children of African Descent – now in its eighth year, is about us showing children of African descent across the African diaspora that we care about them and are willing to show our support for their efforts.
The aims are very simple: to encourage and support our children in their educational development.
Judges play a vitally important role in this contest as they read and provide positive and constructive feedback on essayists’ work. This feedback is given to each essayist. I have heard personally from teachers, parents and children how much the Judges’ feedback meant to them and how the comments they received encouraged them with their schoolwork.
We particularly need English-, French-, Portuguese- and Swahili-speaking Judges. Any other traditional AFRICAN language speakers interested? I would ALSO like to encourage Our children to write in their native languages and not only in colonial languages!
Over the last few years, I have had to turn away children who wanted to participate in this contest – 300 in 2011 - as I did not have enough Judges. Help me to avoid having to turn more away.
Please visit the website (http://www.lornajones.net/Essay_Contest_for_Children_of_African_Descent/Impact.html under "Impact") for feedback received unsolicited from a wonderful teacher whose students had participated in this contest in 2012 explaining how the winners have spent their prize money. This will give you a good idea of the impact this small contest is having on children in Africa and the diaspora.
For more information --- and the winning essays since the beginning of the contest go to: http://www.lornajones.net
Please download and complete the Judges Registration Form and return it to me as soon as possible. If you know anyone of African descent who might be interested in being a Judge, please forward this email to them and ask them to contact me.
As Judges, your work will not commence until early February and you will have two weeks in which to read and provide feedback on your 10 essays. You do not even need to leave the comfort of your home as your essays will be emailed to you.
I do hope you will see value in this initiative for our children’s development and that you will choose to participate in the Essay Contest for Children of African Descent 2013.
Do contact me should you have any questions or comments. I look forward to hearing from you.
With kind regards,
Lorna Jones
Essay Contest for Children and Young People of African Descent