A major book drive is under way in Jamaica led by the local Rotary Clubs, in association with The Gleaner, in an effort to raise the literacy rate on the island. The organization launched the “Race to Literacy Book Drive Project” in an aim to gather as many books as possible for distribution. At the project launch last week, Deika Morrison, chief organizer of the project, asked all Jamaicans to participate in the drive, emphasizing the benefits of a well-read society.
Although the main purpose is to help Jamaica’s new generations of emergent readers, the project also aims to make the Guinness Book of World Records for the “Most Books Donated to Charity in Seven Days.” The record is presently held by Rotarians in California, who set the record with 242,624 books in 2008. Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Minister of Education Andrew Holness have endorsed the venture, with the latter promising to donate books from his personal library.
The books will be collected from May 1-7, 2010. Before May 1 people will be able to drop off their books at points across the island. The points identified now are The Gleaner Company’s head office at 7 North Street in Kingston and Jamaica Money Market Brokers branches islandwide. Persons can also contribute through cash to the drive. Money raised will go towards buying special books for children. Persons can make a donation to the Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaican account number: 822269 and its US$ account number: 822271.
For more information, you may email rotaryracetoliteracy@live.com
For full article, see http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100212/news/news1.html
Photo of Deika Morrison from http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100201/flair/flair1.html
Repeating Islands 
In Guadeloupe in 2008, a young jamaican was the winner of the short story contest CREAT’ CARAIBES
In 2007, the Youth Regional Council of Guadeloupe initiated a short story contest entitled : CREAT’ CARAIBES for youngsters aged between 16 an 25 residing in the Larger Caribbean
This contest is meant to make the young people discover the different cultures of the region and exchange on their ways of life.
The topic of this contest is :
“What look are you taking at your everyday life in your country?”
It will take place between December 21st 2009 and March 29th 2010.
It’s open to young people aged between 16 and 25 residing in the Larger Caribbean, namely:
Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Saint-Lucia, Saint-Kitts – Nevis, Saint-Vincent and the Grenadines, Salvador, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela…
The Associate members: Aruba, Guyana, Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin, Saint-Barth, Martinique, the Nederland Antilles and Turk and the Caicos islands.
Participants can compete in one of these languages: French, English, Spanish or Kréyòl.
The main objective of this contest is to give young people a chance to discover the different cultures of the Larger Caribbean and to deepen their knowledge on their immediate environment through the prism of artistic creation.
The rules and regulations of the contest as well as the registration form are in this website.
To know more :
http://www.creatcaraibes.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=66&Itemid=1