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South London Press

Positive writing project is a big hit

Jul 31 2002

Beyond The Will Smith Challenge (BTWSC), a CEMVO Millennium Awards-funded project, has been motivating young people aged 11-17 years old in east and south London to develop their creative talents to uplift the human spirit.

Towards this end, BTWSC organised a competition, backed by a series of seminars and workshops beginning in March, in which the youth were required to write songs, articles, and poems with a proviso that it had to be positive and without profane language. The inspiring results, which dealt with various issues of concern, were announced at a prize giving ceremony at ELBWO Centre, Forest Gate, east London on Saturday July 27.

South London-based rap group 57th Dynasty, who helped with a workshop at the Oval House Theatre in May, entertained the audience with their current single Break Free. They reiterated the ethos of the song by encouraging the young people to break free of the cycle of negativity, concentrate on their studies and aim high.

All short listed entries will be published in a booklet produced by Kennington- based Anambra Marketing services, and the winning entries will be published in The Voice newspaper’s Young Voices magazine.

Guest of honour, Deputy Chair of Newham council Cllr. Joy Laguda, congratulated the participants and encouraged them to aim high.

In a stimulating address, she encouraged the youth to aspire after excellence and positive role models. “I think it is true to say that too often the lyrics young people listen to are negative and the artists are not always the best role models,” said Cllr. Laguda.

“Beyond The Will Smith Challenge raises awareness in young people to question what they read and hear - whether it affects them in their lives and whether they can do better themselves.”

She presented certificates to all the entrants, and prizes to the winners, including 13 year old Croydon resident Lil’ TK whose entry, Hold On, was the top song.

The master of ceremonies was Upper Tooting resident Fat Freddie M, the former Kiss FM and BBC Radio Live presenter, who is a local youth worker. He offered words of encouragement to bridge the communication gap between the youth and adults, including parents of the competition entrants.

The audience had the opportunity of hearing the participants explain how the competition had raised their horizons. Two of them, Lil’ TK and Hassan-Ali Javed, performed their respective song entries, Hold On and Nothing But Grief.

“I’m impressed by the quality of the entries. It was important to intellectually challenge the youth,” summed up BTWSC co-ordinator Ms. Serwah.

She added, “If they are interested in entering, say the music industry, they should strive to positively shape it and refuse to live up to the stereotype of profanity, drugs, guns and denigration of women.”

The next BTWSC project starting in October will provide pathways to further education or employment for London’s disadvantaged young adults.

For further details, please contact btwsc@hotmail.com 020 8450 5987

COMPETITION SHORTLIST

Articles section

1st prize Jiraye Dalphinis

2nd prize Damien Blackwood

3rd prize Dandee Jennings

Poetry section

1st prize Esther Kuforiji

2ndprize Hassan- Ali Javed

3rd prize Tamara Bello/Elizabeth Dosu

Songs section

1st prize Theo Kerlin

2nd prize Terrence Faruk

3rd prize Nathaniel Bode Ojuola

Lydia Wright, aged nine years old, won a special prize for attending several work shops in a determination to enter a work even though she was below the age limit.

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