Media Release
Dubai, Mar 11: Jerusha Sequeira, Mangalorean, doing her graduation in Journalism in the American University of Sharjah, has won the first prize in above 18 years category in the prestigious Third Oxford University Press Story Writing competition concluded on March 8 here with a prize-giving ceremony for gifted young writers in the UAE.
Students from local schools in the country participated in the competition which was organized by the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in partnership with leading education publisher Oxford University Press.
The theme for this year’s competition was ‘Between Hello and Goodbye’ chosen by Carnegie Medal and Whitbread Prize-winning author Geraldine McCaughrean at the previous festival.
Judges lauded the high standard of the submissions that were received for the competition, saying that the quality of story-telling across all genres was particularly impressive.
The awards were presented to winning students by local children’s author Sahar Naja Mahfouz and UK children’s illustrator and author Sarah McIntyre, in the presence of Julie Till, Gulf Regional Manager for Oxford University Press, and Festival Director Isobel Abulhoul.
Winning entries are published in a bilingual book and winners also received trophies, signed books and tickets to Emirates Airline Festival of Literature creative-writing workshops.
Speaking on the occasion, Julie Till said, “Despite ever-growing distractions in the world, the participants of this competition have shown the compelling power of story-telling. There is such a wealth of creativity and talent in the UAE that needs to be nurtured and Oxford University Press is pleased to encourage this by sponsoring the competition.”
Jerusha excels in many talents – she is a good speaker and a master of ceremony, a party organizer and above all a passionate writer which is her chosen profession. She is no stranger to the Daijiworld readers as she regularly contributes with her thought-provoking articles and comments all of them well-received by the huge readership of Daiji across the globe. She is a regular member of Gulf News (top UAE English daily) panel of commentators on local issues and views.
Born to a well-known local shipping businessman William Sequeira and his same-profession executive-wife Mary Sequeira who have been serving here in Dubai for the past three decades, Jerusha has been climbing the ladder of success ever since she has ventured into the professional studies of Journalism. It may be recalled that Jerusha has in the past also won distinct accolades such as Dubai International Film Festival Young Journalist Award 2012 and Sheikh Khalifa Award from American University of Sharjah for outstanding performance in academics, leadership potential and service to community.
Jerush Sequeira's exclusive articles on Daijiworld: