Winners of the Young Writers Competition

More than 160 entries in three languages were received from Knysna, including Sedgefield and Karatara, for the Young Writers Competition, part of the Knysna Literary Festival.

This was well up on the 27 entries received last year, and Montessori School took top honours, with Percy Mdala School, Oakhill School and Karatara Schools also taking awards.

Guest speaker Shaka Sisulu, author of ‘Becoming’, urged young writers to follow their inner stories. “The story wants to be told,” he said. “Start with the story of your name, give life to your characters, and take the reader along with the story. That’s the power of writing. And, remember, a story is real, even if it isn’t true.”

Under the title ‘Let your Imagination Take Flight’, the Young Writers’ Competition challenged junior learners from 6-12 years to submit a poem and senior learners from 13 years-matric to write a short story in English, Afrikaans or isiXhosa.

The winners of the competition are:

• 1st Prize Short Story – English – Jasmin Knopp, Montessori School
• 2nd Prize Short Story – English – Heather Metelerkamp, Montessori School

• 1st Prize Short Story – Afrikaans – Messina Chant, Knysna Montessori School
• 1st Prize Short Story – isiXhosa – Andisiwe Makwecana, Percy Mdala School

• 2nd Prize Short Story – isiXhosa – Sbusiso Molosi, Percy Mdala School

• 1st Prize Poem – English – Florence Watson, Oakhill School
• 2nd Prize Poem – English – Zinedine De Nil, Montessori School

• 1st Prize Poem – Afrikaans – Rozelle Westraadt, Karatara School
• 2nd Prize Poem – Afrikaans – Geroline Botha, Karatara School

The winners received prizes including a floating trophy, a certificate, books, a mp3 player and a mini-computer.