At age thirteen, Jhodie Richardson wants to be many things: an artist, a lawyer, and an athlete. "Those are the three main things I want to do when I grow up" says this petite young Bishop Anstey High School Student, winner of District 60A (Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago) 1999-2000 Lions International Peace Poster Contest "A New Beginning for Peace" - No words just pictures.
The Form One student was happily enjoying life in her new school last November "when Miss Ramdeo, the art teacher asked if I wanted to enter an art competition for the age group 11 to 13. She was looking for people that really enjoyed art. I went down to the Lions Center where there were many standard five primary school students we were the only Form One from a secondary school, with my draft of what I was thinking about relative to peace. I had thought of something to do with anything that brings people together. And did my poster under the supervision of the Lions."
Jhodie's school was sponsored by the Port of Spain North Lions Club. And says Yvonne Pinder, the new President of the Club, and a former school principal "we had other entries from our area, but sponsored Bishop's with permission from Port of Spain Central Lions Club as the school was in their area."
"The children had to do the final poster on spot, a child must do it herself, so they all came to the Lions Center and did the drawing under supervision. Mr Jones Gilbert, an artist, selected the first eight for us. Lions International is clear each student may submit only one entry and each entry must be the original work of only one student."
At that first level, Jhodie placed second to Kim See Tai, also of Bishop Anstey High School. And was then entered in the second round, at District Level, for Bishop Anstey High School Football Club, as she plays the game, while Kim represented the School. Ironically, at District Level Jhodie placed first. But was beaten by the winner of District 60B to go through the elimination process of the remaining three rounds of international competition. Ultimately one grand prize winner was selected from 24 international finalists, and presented with a cash award of U.S. $2,500 and an all expenses paid trip for the winner and two family members to Honolulu, Hawaii, to attend the awards ceremony at the Lions Clubs International Convention in June 2000 where the he/she was presented with an engraved commemorative plaque.
Approximately 325,000 children from more than 60 countries enter the competition each year. This was the twelfth annual competition which continues to give children between the ages of 11 -13 a voice for peace. Lions International believes that the Peace Poster Contest offers a wonderful chance for youth and lions to unite, which can create a partnership that can be rewarding for many years.
A most surprised Jhodie recalls "standing in the hot hall at Assembly, looking at these people in yellow jackets on stage with Miss Taylor, and the next thing I am hearing my name as winner of the Peace Poster Competition in the District. And going on stage to receive a trophy and U.S. $75.00." She also received a trophy for placing second in the local leg from the sponsoring lions club.
Jhodie explained her poster as "one of the modern world, like people crossing over a bridge to a better world with more greenery and colour where all races can be together in harmony and peace. In between the mountains, instead of a normal sun I put a bright peace sign with a dove in a tree and rays coming down on the people and a calm river flowing down bringing harmony to all races mixing together. I used different colour people who did not really look like people although they were people to me, but I put it in a cartoon form with triangular arms."
The only daughter of Patricia and David Richardson, Jhodie, who has an older brother, Justin, would love to enter the 2000/2001 competition where the theme is "United in Peace" but because she turns 14 on December 28, 2000, will have passed the stipulated age of 13 in January 2001.
But this is only the beginning for Jhodie, who is a member of the school's track team, and is about to do a summer course "to begin real art on easel" having already done courses in clay and pottery, and also in clothing and textiles which brought her 95% in the school's art exam for her design and production of a Carnival Costume "Precious" on a Barbie doll. "That was hard to do as I had to cut the shapes on Barbie, who couldn't move. And couldn't raise up her arms that much."
But Jhodie is happy with her world of ballet, track, swimming gymnastics, and above all art. "I started art in pre-school. Mummy always told me I would be an artist some day. My Uncle Colin Richardson knows about art and gives me hints. I have always done things like going to the galleries to watch art, designed T-shirts, birthday and other cards."
It is indeed a truism that in the midst of joy there can sometimes be sorrow as Jhodie spoke lovingly of her aunt who had always encouraged her - Pamela Mottley-Lawrence, a former Public Relations Manager of Republic Bank, now Manager at the Tragarete Road Branch, who is in Illinois waiting to undergo surgery for two brain tumours "and still writing me via e-mail although she is so ill. We are praying that she will be alright."