Reading creates a flare of imagination
There will be a first, second and third prize for the winners of the competition
Dowling Avenue Primary School, in Westbury, launched their writing competition on July 24 through Readers R Leaders (RRL).
The competition is an initiative of RRL, a community-based organisation which is active in Westbury, Newclare, Coronationville and Bosmont, and provides reading assistance to primary school learners who need support.
The competition is only for Dowling Avenue Primary School learners who are in Grades Three, Four and Five.
All entries have to be original and written in English.
Applicants are encouraged to be creative, humorous, and must express effort. The story should fit onto one side of an A4 page.
The rules of the competition are that the story must be based on a picture on the entry box and the story must be dropped in the box in the reading room at the school.
“The only challenge confronting our children in the areas that we work in is the lack of opportunities.
“We believe that this writing competition will be an opportunity for the learners to rise to the occasion and write their stories and to encourage others to do likewise and to shine in their success,” said Cyril Turton, RRL founder.
The purpose of the competition is to encourage writing in the school and to lift the literacy levels amongst the targeted grades. Writing is an integral and very important part of a learner’s educational life.
It is the organisation’s view that the earlier parents and teachers plant a seed in the minds of young children, the greater the chances of educational success.
Guest speaker Joshua Boraine said, “Whenever you get a chance, instead of switching on the TV, playing PlayStation or playing on your cell phone, rather grab a book and it will take you on a magical adventure.”
According to Turton, the work that Readers R Leaders is doing is helping to improve English reading, operating book-clubs, helping school libraries, arranging motivational talks, spreading a culture of reading, and now the writing competition.
The organisation is optimistic that its projects will work towards cultivating a life-long love of reading and writing.
There will be a first, second and third prize for the winners of the competition.
The first prize is a brand-new bicycle and the second and third prizes are a book and medal.
Turton said, “It’s important for us to demonstrate that we have success stories in the community. The one way that we can turn our community around from drugs and anti-social activities is to have a highly educated community.”
For more news follow us on these platforms:
Twitter: @SowetoUrban, Facebook: Soweto Urban News, Instagram: @SowetoUrban
News site 1: Westside-Eldos Urban News, News site 2: Soweto Urban News
