According to information reaching MiyVue.com, Omowale emerged victorious from a field of six other schools with students between ages 9-10 from across the OECS.
Jendayi was accompanied by her mother Tamu Browne, lecturer at the CFBC College who did a magnificent job of preparing and coaching her for the event which was held in Grenada on Thursday 25th November.
Courts Marketing Manager Theresia Pemberton and Education Officer Joycelyn Archibald-Pennyfeather were part of the St. Kitts Team.
Preparations for this event began in St. Kitts at an official launch on the 29th September at the Joshua Obadiah Williams Primary School in Molineux, where the contestants at the local level were introduced and given the rules of the competition. This was followed by simultaneous semi-final events held throughout St. Kitts and Nevis on 7th and 8th October, respectively.
Events in Nevis were co-ordinated by Reading Specialist Palsy Wilkin while in St. Kitts, Mrs. Pennyfeather led the way. The finals in St. Kitts took place at the Anglican Church Hall in Basseterre where five primary schools namely, St. Thomas’ Primary of Nevis, Seventh Day Adventist, Sandy Point Primary, Estridge Primary and Tucker–Clarke Primary competed for the opportunity to become the local COURTS winner and the next ambassador for St. Kitts.
Jendayi Omowale captured this title winning EC$2,000.00 from COURTS and the winning trophy donated by Warner’s One Stop. Her school also received the same monetary prize.
“At the regional competition Jendayi was reader number 5 for both rounds and in front of hundreds of teachers and students she appeared poised and confident as she read. She was exceptional, as she tackled the two readings which she had not seen until two minutes before airtime. She placed first taking the title from Grenada (last year’s champion) while Dominica placed second with St. Lucia coming third,” said chaperon Joycelyn Archibald.
Ms. Archibald who is also an Education Officer has expressed congratulations to Jendayi and all others who made the competition possible including Ministries of Education across the region for promoting reading in schools.
Prizes for this event included monetary awards to both students and the respective schools, reading materials, certificates of participation, cell phones from Digicel and a laptop from COURTS.