Maltese teenager runner up in Commonwealth writing competition

A Maltese teenager has been chosen as the runner up in the 2012 Commonwealth Junior Essay Competition with an essay on the theme ‘Connecting Cultures’. Celine Cassar, 14, named her essay "A Day's Journey" and based the story on her own experience of swallowing a 5c coin and being rushed to hospital and the introduction of the euro in Malta. Chief judge Charles Kemp said about Ms Cassar’s essay: “This is fun, witty and imaginative... The writing is clear and confident." The first prize was won by a boy from Malawi. Organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society, the writing contest has been running for more than 100 years. More than 8,000 people took part last year.