Festival Queen Brithney Clarke launches literacy project
Published:Saturday | February 7, 2026 | 12:07 AM
At a time when many young people struggle to be heard, Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 2025 Brithney Clarke is championing literacy as a pathway to voice and leadership through the launch of her ‘Read. Speak. Lead’ initiative, aimed at nurturing confident readers, effective communicators, and future leaders. The initiative was officially launched last week Tuesday, at the roof terrace of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport in Kingston.
Targeting children aged six to 15, Read. Speak. Lead. focuses on developing three key areas: reading proficiency, public speaking, and leadership skills. The project is scheduled to roll out across select parishes from February to May 2026 through reading engagements, public speaking workshops, and national competitions.
Clarke used the occasion to underscore the transformative power of literacy and recounted her own journey by describing reading as a gateway to imagination, confidence, identity, and leadership.
“Reading shaped me long before my achievements ever did. Books became my quiet teachers and companions. They taught me how to imagine, how to solve problems, and how to find my voice, first on paper, then aloud, and eventually in leadership spaces.”
The reigning festival queen noted that as a child, she began her love for reading with newspapers and comics, crediting her parents, particularly her mother, Senior Superintendent of Police Stephanie Lindsay, for nurturing her love for literature. That early foundation, she said, empowered her to navigate academic spaces confidently and eventually helped her to emerge as a national youth ambassador.
READING CHALLENGE
The programme includes reading days and library engagements in partnership with the Jamaica Library Service, a reading bingo challenge aimed at gamifying literacy and encouraging joyful reading habits, and alignment with the National Reading competition.
Participants will also benefit from public speaking workshops, delivered in partnership with the Jamaica Association for Debating and Empowerment (JADE), equipping students with tools for articulation, confidence, and critical expression. The initiative will culminate in a National Debate and Public Speaking competition and awards ceremony on May 30, during Child Month.
She stated, “This is a movement about participation, not perfection. We want our children to find confidence, believe in their ideas, and understand that their voices matter.”
Delivering remarks on behalf of Olivia Grange, minister of culture, gender, entertainment and sport, executive director of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, Lenford Salmon, commended Clarke for her vision, leadership, and commitment to youth development. He also highlighted the continued impact of the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen competition, noting that the platform consistently produces socially conscious leaders who implement transformative community projects.
“Through Read. Speak. Lead, young people are being empowered not only to absorb information, but to communicate it, influence positive change, and participate fully in cultural and civic life. It also demonstrates that leadership is not confined to titles, but is revealed through service, advocacy, and action. Miss Clarke is using her platform to uplift, inspire, and create lasting impact, and for that, she deserves the highest commendation,” Salmon said.