Three young people won gift certificates after they took part in a competition to express their thoughts on emancipation.

Lovitta Foggo, the Minister of Community Affairs and Sport, congratulated first place winner Harmony Seymour, runner-up Melissa Weeks and Alay Burgess-Rocket, who came third.

The Emancipation Youth Creativity Competition asked schoolchildren to submit poems, WhatsApp or YouTube videos and other forms of art on the theme of “What does freedom mean to me?”.

Harmony, an 11-year-old Bermuda High School pupil, won a $75 gift certificate for her video.

Melissa, 17 and a pupil at Warwick Academy, entered a video and a poem. She took home a $50 gift certificate.

Alay, a 12-year-old Dellwood Middle School pupil, sent in a poem and won a $25 gift certificate.

Ms Foggo said: “This creative activity was a way for us to engage our young people about the importance of celebrating and understanding the importance of emancipation as part of Bermuda’s history.

“We also wanted our young people through creative expression to share their interpretation of the significant efforts of those who helped bring about the abolition of slavery.

“I was heartened and impressed with submissions shared, and on behalf of the ministry, I want to commend all of those young people who entered the contest.”