More Creative Writing Outlets For Juniors

The Literary Arts desk of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) recorded an overwhelming response to its redesigned WISE (Writers in Schools and Education) Junior Clinic.  Some forty (40) students of varying levels of experience and skills were registered to attend this creative writing workshop series.

The new version of the programme which kicked off on Saturday, February 7th saw a shift from the school environment setting into a six (6) weekend clinic for Primary and Secondary students aged 7-15.

There will be two sessions, one with a junior focus catering primarily to students in the 12-15 age range, and the other targeting young writers between the impressionable ages of 7-11 most of whom are in preparation mode for the Barbados Secondary School Entrance Examinations (BSSEE).

Cultural Officer – Literary Arts and Coordinator of the Programme, Ayesha Gibson-Gill said, “The WISE Creative Writing Jr. Clinics were birthed out a need to find additional outlets for these young creative minds to express themselves, improve on their writing skills and to complement the skills learnt in the school’s curricula.”

She added that the programme is taught by seasoned WISE tutors who have been going into the schools for over 15 years and noted that the Foundation also facilitates a WISE training programme for teachers, tutors and parents, giving tips and tools on the techniques for fostering creative reading and writing in children and youth.

This new version of the WISE Creative Writing Jr. Clinic is scheduled to run until March 14th and is being held at the Art Splash Centre, Hastings, Christ Church.