THE RITA MARLEY FOUNDATION LAUNCHES ITS “ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION!”

By Shereita Grizzle—-

Participating schools will be given instructions on how to proceed at their various assemblies this morning, as The Rita Marley Foundation is gearing up to launch its inaugural Essay Writing Competition.

Under the theme ‘Bob Marley: His Music and Message’, students from Haile Selassie Junior High, Marcus Garvey High, Papine High and Bob Marley Primary and Junior High schools, will get the opportunity to creatively explore the musical legacy of the late reggae icon.

Stephanie Marley, daughter of Rita Marley, told The Gleaner the first installation of the competition is open to a few select schools but that the foundation is hoping for growth over time.

Bob Marley

The foundation outlined important points the students should include in their pieces, such as the impact of Marley’s music on youth, Jamaica and the world.

The pieces should also point out how Marley’s life and message encouraged them to achieve their goals, as well as give their opinions on whether music can encourage peace, love and unity.

Each of the participating institutions should assign a teacher to help select the school’s top-three essays.

Those entries must be submitted to the Rita Marley Foundation no later than June 1, after which the foundation will designate a panel of judges to assess each piece.

The judges will select the best three essays overall, the pieces earning gold, silver and bronze trophies.

Individual authors will receive medals, certificates and other prizes.

In addition to the prizes, the winning essay will be published on the foundation’s official website and Facebook page and will also feature in the foundation’s newsletter, Harambe.

Prizes are scheduled to be awarded on July 1.

shereita.grizzle@gleanerjm.com