Ghanaian Elise Jensen and others win Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition Prize

Elise Jensen, a student of Ghana International School is flying the flag of Ghana high on the international literacy stage.

Elise was one of more than 11,000 students from almost all the 53 commonwealth countries who submitted essays to the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition Prize.

Founded in 1883, The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is, therefore, the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools. It was created to promote literacy, expression and creativity among young people throughout the Commonwealth.

This year’s competition, on the theme ‘A Connected Commonwealth’ asked entrants to consider how they can work to use cultural, technological and environmental connections for positive change across the Commonwealth. Topics invited young people to consider the potential of the Commonwealth in strengthening the vast and varied links between citizens.

The theme was launched in Ghana last year when the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visited Ghana.

Elise submitted a poem which she called ‘A place you feel connected to’.

Her poem is a vibrant, vivid celebration of her favourite elements of Ghanaian culture; a welcoming tale of food, dancing, clothing and the ties she feels to the country.

Dr Diana Owen OBE, Director General of the Royal Over-Seas League and Chair of the Junior Final Panel, said Elise’s poem is ‘A heartfelt hymn to Ghana, lively, bright, optimistic, playful and confident.’ Upon learning she was Junior Runner-up, Elise felt ‘very excited, surprised and very happy!’

Yesterday, The Duchess of Cornwall hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace for winners of The Queen’s Commonwealth essay competition on behalf of The Queen.

Camilla, who is Vice-Patron of The Royal Commonwealth Society, presented the prizes to winners, including Elise.

Other winners were Catherine Wang, senior winner from Canada with her poem ‘Beached’, which follows the heart-breaking experience of three passers-by as they find a whale washed up on a beach. Another was for Veronica Shen, junior winner from Singapore, with her poem ‘Lost’, which details the story of a girl growing up in China as it explores a complicated relationship with the country’s past.

The Senior Runner-up was Nnemdi Ozoemena from Nigeria, with her story ‘Hello’, which is the tale of two young people struggling with issues in their society. Elise was the Junior Runner-Up prize winner.

During the event, The Duchess of Cornwall revealed that next year’s competition will be launched during her upcoming visit to New Zealand with Prince Charles: “I am delighted to be helping to spread the word, and I am even more delighted that so many young people from across the Commonwealth are rising to the challenge of writing the word!”