The academy is a prestigious international event for young people from all over the world - all winners in the Cable & Wireless international childnet web development competition.

The competition, open to young people 18 years and under, is administered by Childnet International, a United Kingdom-based international children's Internet charity, sponsored by Cable & Wireless.

"The goal of the competition is to recognise the outstanding creativity of young people who develop innovative Internet projects which bring positive benefit to other people around the world," Cable & Wireless Jamaica said yesterday.

Eighteen-year-old Jamaican Shawna-Kay Lester is among the international winners in this year's competition.

Shawna-Kay, who won the "New to the Net" category, is the second successive winner for Jamaica in this competition, as last year, Carrie-Ann Gordon of Immaculate Conception High also came out on top in the same category.

Winners will receive a grant from a special $55,000 web development prize fund and an opportunity to attend the Academy for a week under the tutelage of experienced, internationally recognised web development professionals.

Members of the public can view the Internet projects and vote for their favourite at www.childnetacademy.org/winners. The winner will be presented with a special prize to be announced on March 31.

A special feature of this year's academy will be a one-day international conference to review the impact that the Internet is having on children and young people, to be held at the Wyndham Rose Hall & Country Club on March 31.

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