Young Writers Win Prizes In Letter Writing Competition

Three secondary school students walked away with the top prizes in this year’s Letter Writing Competition.

The young writers received their winnings at a prize giving ceremony held recently at the General Post Office, Cheapside, Bridgetown, which was hosted by the Barbados Postal Service and the Ministry of Educational Transformation.

The first-place winner was St. Leonard’s Boys’ School student Adesh Parasram, while Combermere student Enioluwa Oni, and Shaleah Brathwaite of the Daryll Jordan Secondary School, were second and third-place winners, respectively.

Entrants wrote under the theme “Imagine you are the ocean. Write a letter to someone explaining why and how they should take care of you”.

Postmaster General, Joann Busby, said young writers were encouraged to explore the beauty of the ocean and understand the threats it faces, as well as to express mankind’s shared responsibility for its preservation.

“In doing so, they (students) are not only developing valuable communication skills but deepening their understanding of sustainability and their role in shaping a more environmentally conscious world,” Ms. Busby stated.

Acting Deputy Chief Education Officer, Julia Beckles, said persons may question why the Ministry of Educational Transformation would encourage letter writing in 2025, but according to her, it is because “the literature tells us that letter writing bolsters social and emotional learning”.

She continued: “Imagine that. And that is also one of our pillars of educational transformation. So, we are going to take an activity that all of us have been involved in at some point in our lives – an activity from way back – and we can still show its relevance today.” 

The prizes for first place were $1,000 cash, a Galaxy tablet A7 Lite and carry case, and wireless Bluetooth headphones. For second place, the winner took home a $500 voucher, a cash prize of $300, Bluetooth ear buds, a flash drive, and a pen. The third-place winner received wireless headphones, an insulated cup, a flash drive, a pen, and a $500 voucher. (PR/GIS)

Caption: From left to right – Third-place winner of the 2025 Letter Writing Competition, Shaleah Brathwaite of the Daryll Jordan Secondary School; second-place winner Enioluwa Oni of Combermere; and first-place winner Adesh Parasram of the St. Leonard’s Boys’ School, pose with their prizes following a recent ceremony.