The Star Performing Cultural Club (SPCC) in collaboration with the Guyana Post Office Corporation has planned a national youth letter-writing competition, which will see some winners visiting overseas destinations as part of their prize.

According to Rawle Nelson, president of SPCC, the objectives of the competition are to recognize and reward outstanding work in literature by young Guyanese in order to provide a focus for the recognition of the creative writing of young Guyanese at home and abroad, and to stimulate interest in, and provide encouragement for the development of good writing among young Guyanese in general.

The competition will be held in two categories, 14 years and under and 15 years to 22 years.

In the 14 years and under category, participants would be required to write an essay in the form of a letter to a pen pal overseas telling him or her what Christmas is like in Guyana. The essay must not have more than 1,000 words. For this category the first, second and third place winners will receive trophies, hampers and cash.

Nelson said that in the 15 to 22 years category the participants will have three topics to choose from, all of which they will write in the form of letters to pen pals.

The first topic is to discuss what solution they could offer to curb the use of drugs among young people since this was on the increase. The second topic requires them to discuss the role of youths in preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS and the third is in question form, which asks," 'Do you agree that information technology should be a compulsory component in every education institution?'

The first place winner in this category will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the United Kingdom while the second place winner will receive a ticket to North America and the third place winner will receive a weekend trip for two at a local resort. They will all receive trophies.

The letters must not have more than 2,500 words.

Nelson said that the deadline for entries was on December 22, and stressed that there would be no extension of the deadline.

Entries must be sent to: GPO/SPCC National Letter Writing Competition, Guyana Post Office Corporation, Robb Street, Georgetown. Entrants must write their names, date of birth, address, telephone number if any, and what educational institution they are part of on a separate sheet of paper.

The presentation of prizes is to be held in January on a date yet to be decided.

A panel of five judges comprising persons from Guyana, well known for their work in the writing field will judge the competition.

A short list of six nominees for each category will be announced one week before the award ceremony and the winners will know themselves on the night of the ceremony.

Nelson told Stabroek News that it was hoped that the event would be an annual one.

On the management committee for the letter-writing competition are: Nelson; Magalia Assanah, international youth ambassador or SPCC; Jenetta Mc Allister, Gavin Beaton, vice-president of SPCC, Michael Charles a member of SPCC and Leon Dickson an employee of GPO.

Also on SPCC's agenda is their annual Youth Media Personality Award, which will be held on February 9.