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June 1999
AWARDS PROGRAMME LAUNCHED BY EDUCATION MINISTER
The Education Minister of Barbados, Hon. Mia Mottley,
launched the Cable & Wireless Childnet Awards at the
Combermere High School in Barbados today. In front of a
packed audience of over 500 school children from schools
across the island, Minister Mottley welcomed the International
Awards programme and said she was looking forward to the
Awards ceremony which Barbados would be hosting in April
2000. The Awards are sponsored by Cable & Wireless
and are run by Childnet International, a non-profit organisation
which seeks to promote the interests of children in international
communication. The Awards are given to children, and those
working with them, who are developing outstanding Internet
projects which benefit other children.
Nigel Williams the Director of Childnet says, "The
Internet has tremendous potential to help children learn
more about other cultures and issues and it is often children
themselves who are beginning to realise and exploit the
power of the Internet. The awards programme show us exciting
examples of how the Internet can be used to benefit children
all over the world and we are delighted that Cable & Wireless
Barbados are willing to host the ceremony for the year
2000"
The 1999 awards received entries from over 24 countries
world wide, across every continent and earlier this year
British Prime Minister, Tony Blair sent a personal letter
of congratulations to the 12 finalists. In his message,
which was read out at the Awards ceremony in Sydney, Australia,
he said that the winners of the awards "provide vivid
examples of how the potential can be innovatively realised
for the benefit of learners of all ages and nationalities
I would like to pass on my sincere congratulations to them."
One of the most remarkable Award winners from last year
was 12 year old Hero Joy Nightingale from England who suffers
from locked-in syndrome, a condition which leaves her unable
to speak, gesture, change positions or look after herself.
Despite this she has produced a remarkable Webzine called
'From the Window'. As well as writing articles, she has
been able to get a number of famous contributions including:
the Archbishop of Canterbury, writer Margaret Attwood and
UN Secretary, Kofi Anan who Hero met in New York last month.
Trevor Clarke the Chief Executive of Cable & Wireless
Bartel says " Cable & Wireless is investing heavily
in the development of information technology on the island.
We are training our workforce to be part of this exciting
development beginning in schools. By taking part in the
Childnet awards, Barbadian children will have the opportunity
to show off what hey have learned". Vince Yearwood
General Manager from Cable & Wireless BET adds, " Already
in an island as small as Barbados we have more than 10,600
dial up Internet users. Over the coming years we are seeking
to develop positive opportunities for using the Internet
and that's why we are proud to be hosting the awards in
the year 2000"
As well as categories for individuals, schools and not
for profit groups the 2000 Awards has a new category for
local or national governments (or organisations supported
by government) which are developing strategic initiatives
which benefit children's use of Information Communication
Technology (ICT). This new category has been sponsored
by Newbridge Networks. "With Newbridge being so heavily
involved in the education and Government sectors we have
perfect opportunities to promote this new Government category" says
Vaughn Armstrong, Newbridge's Vertical Marketing Manager. "This
is an exciting opportunity for Newbridge to support an
international awards programme which recognise "best
practice" and puts children from all over the world
on a world stage. The new Government category will enable
the awards to have an even more strategic impact."
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