PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean, District 7020 Butterfly Story writing contest was recently concluded and with much appreciation to our young authors, Rotary Sunrise heartily congratulates Khushi Soneji and Nagely Andular Vargas for emerging as the overall winners. The Gift of Listening by Khushi J. Soneji of the Methodist Agogic Center and The Girl with the Well-Worn Uniform by Nagely Andujar Vargas of Ruby Labega school emerged as the two best stories from the 14 stories submitted from St. Maarten.
This year, the participating schools and students included: Methodist Agogic Center with participants: Khushi Soneji, Jennifer Faneyte, Chrisalia Douglas, Jada Emmanuel, Rihanna Anthony, Chiyanka Thomas, Sariah Allamby, and Tyler Sargeant. From Ruby Labega School, the participants included Nagely Andujar Vargas, Salina Gopaul, and Breanna Woodstock. The one student from St. Joseph School who participated was Marisha Ulla while the two who participated from the Hillside Christian School Asha Stevens were Géanah Gumbs and Zanzi Ekpe Brook.
The Butterfly Story Book writing contest challenges creative young writers aged 7-11 to tell their stories. The students were asked to write a story reflecting acts of kindness, friendship, leadership and/or respect. This could involve friends, family and/or pets and specifically illustrate the Caribbean culture, between 300-750 words. The contest was open to students residing in the Caribbean as an opportunity to become published young authors!
In 2016, Sacha Tobias of the MAC Browlia Maillard was selected as one of the winners of this competition and had her story published along with the other selected winners in our Rotary District 7020. The winners of this year’s story, Nagely and Khushi will also have their stories published in the Story Book alongside winners from other Caribbean countries.
During the presentation of the certificates and prizes to the winning schools, Principal Esther Jeffers-Cannegieter noted her extreme pride of her group 6 student Nagely for being one in the first place position. She further congratulated the other students who worked hard as well as well as their teacher Gumbs for her consistent dedication to this project. She concluded with a note of thanks on behalf of her staff and the school board to the Rotary club for their contribution in programs such as these for their students to get an opportunity to shine internationally.
President Okama Ekpe Brook of the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise, and the project coordinator: Rotarian Marcellia Henry would like to congratulate Khushi J. Soneji of the Methodist Agogic Center and Nagely Andujar Vargas for being the overall winners. They would also like to thank the other participants and the Principals, Teachers, Advisors and the classroom teachers for embracing this project and encouraging participation of their students. The promotion of literacy supports the love for reading and writing. Writing not only help build strong young leaders but it also tells the Caribbean story and puts St. Maarten on the regional and global map.
The Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise meets every Tuesday at the Ginger Bread Café Restaurant, Belair Beach Hotel from 7:00AM to 8:00AM. For more information on the club, visit our website at sxmsunrise.org or email sunriserotary.sxm@hotmail.com. We are also on Facebook: Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise.
