Etana launched an essay competition for young Jamaicans

Singer Etana recently launched an essay competition for young Jamaicans between 11-15 years old, across the island.  In a need to give a helping hand to aid students with back- to - school issues, 15 winners will be chosen and  will each received $15,000 Kingston Bookshop voucher and a backpack filled with school supplies.

Winners will also walk away with an autographed copy of Etana’s second album, Free Expressions

The ‘Be Strong, Be Free Essay Competition"  was announced  last week via the singer  Facebook and Twitter page , and  has partnered with the Jamaica Observer and CVM-TV to assist with getting the news out.

To enter the compeition, students are asked to submit 500 word essay on the challenges they face, whether in school, sports, at home or otherwise and how they plan to overcome those challenges and become more than average.  The closing date for entries is August 20, 2011, and she be mailed or dropped off at the Jamaica Observer’s head office  ( Attention:  ‘The Be Strong, Be Free Essay Competition’, Jamaica Observer 40-42 ½ Beechwood Avenue, Kingston 5  Jamaica)

Etana stated that, “I’ve been helping children in and around my community and who are somehow connected to me or reach out to me to go back to school for some time now. I thought this would be an even bigger way to give back to my fans and to help make it easier for parents to get their kids for school … I really want our kids to start thinking about how they are going to overcome the challenges they face and how those challenges will make them stronger and better, because they are our future and they do have challenges.” She is also encouraging parents to get involved with their children, and to allow them to enter the competition.