Young Seychelloise Jade Jolene du Preez wins international writing award |13 April 2018
A young Seychelloise, Jade Jolene du Preez, has won another international recognition, the FIPA international centennial award for outstanding writing of short stories.
This comes only a year after performing at the Sanremo Junior World finals in Italy.
Jade’s environmental-based short story was entitled ‘Desolation or Resurrection of the World?’
Jade was the only recipient under the age of 30 to receive the FIPA centennial award, an annual story writing event organised by the Farquharson Institute of Public Affairs (FIPA) based in Jamaica.
The purpose of the FIPA awards is to celebrate extraordinary critical thinkers and leaders who use the written word to promote one or more of their three areas of focus, namely: education & culture, industry & commerce and science & technology.
Outstanding Scholar (Research Writing Award) awards were given to eminent professors from the University of the West Indies, University of Calgary, City University of New York, Columbia University, Yale University and Beijing University of Technology.
It is worth noting that FIPA has published over 90 books and booklets on a wide variety of subjects.
Its most influential authors have included governors general, prime ministers, and Professor Uwe Kilzinger, the founding president of Templeton College, Oxford University. Based on its history and traditions, FIPA is of the view that it is its mission to continue to promote the masters of the written word.
In the award letter addressed to Jade, the director Dr Angela Ramsay (PhD) writes that on behalf of the Patron, Trustees, Advisors and Board of Directors, she offers Jade Jolene her sincere and heartfelt congratulations on receiving this award and the best wishes from Farquharson Institute of Public Affairs of Jamaica.
The award ceremony took place in Kingston, UWI Regional Headquarters on April 5, 2018, in front of 73 invitees comprising international professors and lecturers. Unfortunately Jade couldn’t attend the Jamaican presentation as she was in the middle of term 1 exam preparations and recently had a recording session for a television performance.
Dr Angela Ramsey made a PowerPoint presentation to let Jade introduce herself with some words about Seychelles and why she likes to write:
“I am Jade Jolene du Preez. Please allow me to explain why I like writing so much and what I like about Seychelles. Writing is a way to express how I feel when I’m unable to talk to others and to remember things: how something felt, what it looked like etc. It’s also a way to play around with words. I believe when you read a lot you get inspired to write and express yourself, it’s also a break from reality and a chance to slip into another world or character. I am happy when I am writing; it satisfies me even when I’m expressing negative moments. Hopefully whatever I write in the future, whether a book, a song, a poem, it will touch people as much as I get touched by other writers' books, words and songs.
To me Seychelles is home – my friends, my parents and the beauty of nature, which I truly like to preserve. I love our wonderful beaches soft and white as snow and the Seychelles seawater so clear, like a marble cake of blues, a rare beauty with gardens of colours and many varieties of fish. People travel long distances to catch a glimpse of what we have here right in front of our eyes.”
After introducing Jade as someone who speaks four languages and excels in all the subjects at school including maths and the sciences as well as in music, Dr Ramsay went on to recite a part of Jade’s short story entitled ‘Desolation or Resurrection of the World?’
“As I ate I tried to avoid looking out of the window and tried instead to picture how stunning the outdoors was before all the pollution. Dreamingly I recalled: How the golden chariot of Helios gradually awakens my skin, as a salty smell prickles my nose”.
Dr Ramsay noted that Jade is writing about the protection of the environment, so she has a message it’s not only about the beauty of her words, it is a message she is imparting.
Dr Ramsay continued to recite part of the story:
“The sea in an unusually sleepy mood, looking dazzling like an infinite number of sapphires had been perfectly placed together, and glints in the sun as it sways back and forth.”
The presentation about Jade’s award finished with a photo collage of Jade and the wish that she will be able to visit Jamaica one day and meet the officials of FIPA.
In the award correspondence, the FIPA director voiced the most wonderful words a parent can hear about their child:
“If ever there was a child destined for greatness....”
“We hope that this award encourages Jade to become a writer - in whatever field of endeavour she chooses!” Dr Ramsay concluded.
Jade humbly recognises that this award is one stepping stone closer to reaching greatness, but for her it is more about reaching out to others. The fact that Jade got awarded at such a young age for an International Literary Award made her realise that if you reach out you can touch and inspire others.
“I hope I inspired others and together we will look after our beautiful planet before it’s too late,” says Jade humbly.
Jade says that through this award she hopes to motivate more students to take part in International Writing Competitions and to take care of our precious world.
“I am passionate about the protection of the environment, and I want to protect our planet. We depend on the Earth so we better start taking care of it. Every day we are given the option to make positive changes for the future of our planet. Don’t ever let someone tell you that one person can’t make a difference. The truth is that for centuries it has always been the action of one person that inspires the action of many. By writing such story I wanted to be a leader for the youths, and inspire others to reach for the sky,” she says.
The young prodigy will also be participating in the next edition of the well acclaimed talent show ‘Sesel I Annan Talan’
