Snaps and claps were given to the 10 finalists of this year’s Poetry Slam finals held by the New-Self Help Community Foundation in partnership with Youth Services Unit’s YouthFlex radio show as a Department of Children and Family Services Child Month activity.

The event, which took place at Radio Cayman on Wednesday, 8 May 2019 was the culmination of a contest opened in February. In all 70 contestants took part in the preliminary round from the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) the Cayman Islands Education Centre (CIFEC), Cayman Prep & High School, John Gray High School, Cayman International School (CIS), Clifton Hunter High School and Cayman Academy, Triple C School and Grace Christian Academy.

The finalists performed self-penned poems, which ranged from the pressure placed on girls to confirm to societal norms to the proposed cruise berthing facility.

Overall winner CIS student Alia Smith won the closely-fought competition with her insightful and well-performed poem: “The Art of Getting By.” The slam poetry veteran received a $500 cheque, which she will put towards her college fund.

Mohyndra Brown (CIFEC) and Colindra-Rodricka McGarvey-Sterling (Cayman Academy) won $400 and $300 respectively.

“The New Self-Help Community Foundation was created to inspire, educate and cultivate the creative imagination of young people to take responsibility for their future, and the quality of slam poetry entries truly reflects that mission,” said the organisation’s Co-Founder J.C. Connor.

Acting Head of Youth Services Unit, Mr. James Myles concurred, “The Youth Services Unit is happy to partner with New-Self Help Community Foundation to deliver this year’s Poetry Slam. This is another quality youth development initiative facilitated by grant funding from the Ministry of Youth.”

Poems and performances were evaluated on content and delivery by a four-person panel. This year’s judges were recording artist and poet Patrick Lopez, former George Town Primary School Principal and Golden Apple award recipient Marie Martin, Proud of Them honouree Latoya Francis and award-winning actress Rita Estevanovich.