Carrie-Ann topped the "New to the Net" category in the Cable & Wireless Childnet Awards 2004, an international competition designed to stimulate and highlight the positive uses young people the world over are making of the Internet. The announcement was made at the Terra Nova Hotel on Thursday afternoon, March 4.

Cable & Wireless Jamaica’s Chairman Len deBarros in congratulating Carrie-Ann on her victory pointed to the competition as another demonstration of  "…Cable & Wireless' global commitment to the communities in which our company does business—a commitment which is geared towards providing the necessary technological infrastructure to support the twin goals of national development on one level  and to provide opportunities for self actualization on another level."

Gary Barrow, Cable & Wireless Jamaica’s President who was the keynote speaker at the function said: "Since we got news of the results of this year’s Childnet competition, I have been overcome with a renewed sense of national pride to have it re-confirmed, that Jamaicans can compete and match skills, with the best anywhere in the world, in almost anything."

Against the background of the company’s provision of free Internet access to primary and secondary schools, he added: "Cable & Wireless is ideally positioned and committed to increasing participation in initiatives such as the Childnet competition.  We are also at the forefront in our country’s attempt to bridge that ever widening digital divide, and we unhesitatingly accept that responsibility."

Carrie Ann's entry - Youngadults2youngeradults - (http://members.lycos.co.uk/thelinkup/) is a prototype for a website that will provide a place for teens and young adults to help one another. The website will provide young people with the opportunity to discuss issues and ask questions. Carrie Ann has plans to develop a moderated discussion board and to write and a monthly newsletter for members.

Overall, this year, some 250 entries in 12 categories -- were received from 40 countries including Australia, Italy, Ireland, Jamaica, Netherlands, Singapore, Taiwan, USA and the UK.

The entries were subjected to an intensive process of judging by an international team of professionals and a select group of young people.

Carrie-Ann's was one of twelve category winners selected and she will be a participant at this year’s Academy to be held in London in April 2004. The winners will each receive a grant from the Academy web development fund plus training and mentoring from Childnet and ongoing guidance throughout the year via the Academy forum and international network of previous Childnet winners.

Links:
http://www.childnetacademy.org/
http://www.childnet-int.org/