Students Tobias Evans, Dinneiqua Cameron and Tykai Fahie Win Rotary Club of Tortola Anti-Litter Campaign Poster Competition

Tobias Evans of Century House Montessori School, Dinneiqua Cameron of Joyce Samuel Primary School and Tykai Fahie of Elmore Stoutt High School are the winners of the Rotary Club of Tortola Anti-Litter Campaign poster competition.

A statement from the club said children from ages 6-16 were tasked with designing a poster that would send a strong message to the community against littering and encouraging proper garbage disposal as one of their primary activities for the Rotary year 2022 – 2023.

The committee received more than 50 amazing submissions from six schools across Tortola with Century House Montessori students submitting the most entries.

The competition, held in collaboration with Green VI and the Department of Solid Waste, was launched in December 2022.

The club recently added the environment as a new focus to target a behaviour change by reaching the wider community via the involvement of schools.

Club President Valerie Georges-Thomas thanked all the children who submitted entries, noting that the artwork was truly impactful.

“We can think of no better way to convey the anti-litter message than through children’s art and we heartily congratulate and are grateful to all of the schools and the students who participated in the competition. They delivered truly impactful works of art that gave the judges a lot to think about in their deliberations. We really hope that the general public will pay attention to the messages the children are sending through their art and consider changing their behaviour in relation to littering,” said Georges-Thomas.

The judges for the competition were renowned local artist Reuben Vanterpool, artist Debi Carson of Art Without Limits and Ellie Crespi, a member of the Club and lover of children’s art.

Winners have already received their prizes, but according to the statement, other students will receive their awards soon.

“The main thrust of the campaign is a series of messaging initiatives that the Club will put forth with the aim of impacting the mindset of the general public to result in gradual positive change in attitude and behaviour towards littering and the management of waste. The Club intends to host a neighbourhood beautification competition and undertake some clean up/beautification projects in various areas around the Virgin Islands as part of the campaign, teaming up with various strategic partners through the course of the campaign,” the statement explained.

Winners

Age  6-7

Tobias Evans- Montessori

Shanea John- AMPS

Nia Loi Wright- Cedar International

Honourable mention: Kiara Sorrentino – Montessori

Age  8-11

Dinneiqua Cameron- JSPS

Ashanti Partab- AMPS

Tianna DaSilva- JSPS

Honourable mention: Maggie Nolan- Montessori

Age 12-16

Tykai Fahie- Elmore Stoutt High School

Sara Augustine- St. George’s Secondary

Mary Torio- St George’s Secondary

Honourable mention: Zara Pascoe- Cedar International

The winning submissions will be incorporated into the Rotary Club of Tortola anti-litter campaign with artwork being featured on posters, billboards and recyclable shopping bags.