The Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI) is proud to announce the winners of our National
Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) Competition. ‘Exposing Marine Pollution’ wasselected by BUEI
as this year’s theme for the Island, which aligned with the competition’s global focus on pollution.
Submissions ranged in the categories of writing, photography, and videography.
Hosted for the first time in Bermuda by BUEI, the Young Reporters for the Environment Journalism
Competition is a part of the YRE International Programme introduced locally in 2022. An environment focused
community journalism programme, YRE gives young people aged 11-25 a platform to research
environmental issues and promote solutions through investigative reporting, photography, and video
journalism. Since its inception, BUEI has offered the programme in conjunction with its afterschool
programme and summer and holiday camps, with students at the Bermuda College and the Berkeley
Institute, and Youth Climate Summit project participants.
Bermuda’s winners were entered into the annual Global Competition and local student Zoe Mir’s article
submission entitled, ‘Plastic Pollution on Nonsuch Island, the Home of the Cahows’, has been shortlisted
by the Foundation for Environmental Education for an international award.
“Entering the YRE Global Competition through BUEI is a first for Bermuda. We are proud of all the
submissions and national winners for YRE this year” said Joanne Ball-Burgess, BUEI Programme Educator
for Eco-Schools & Young Reporters for the Environment. “Zoe’s shortlisted article represents our island
on a worldwide scale and hopefully serves as encouragement for our young environmental journalists.”
The YRE National winners are as follows:
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGN PHOTO
Sophie Eden, Age 11, Warwick Academy Student – Submission: ‘Happiness Ahead’
Caitlyn Glawdwin, Age 15, Bermuda High School Student – ‘Submission: Washed Away’
Anthony Buckley, Age 24, Bermuda College Student – ‘Submission: War for a Dying Planet’
CATEGORY: PHOTO STORY
Josiah Darrell, Age 20, Bermuda College Student – Submission: ‘What motivates you to want to protect
nature and the ocean?’
CATEGORY: SINGLE REPORTAGE PHOTO
Lailah Parker-Smith, Age 11, Whitney Institute Student – Submission: ‘A Golf Ball with a Smile’
Yeshai Burgess, Age 17, The Berkeley Institute Student – Submission: ‘The World in Plastic’
CATEGORY: ARTICLES
Zoe Mir, Age 13, Somersfield Academy Student – Submission: ‘Plastic Pollution on Nonsuch Island, the
Home of the Endangered Cahows’
Asia Robinson, Age 18, Bermuda College Student – Submission: ‘The Plastic Plague: Confronting the
Devastating Impact of Marine Pollution’
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGN VIDEO
Honourable Mention to Francis Patton Primary School
Local YRE Journalism Competition Jurors included:
- Weldon Wade, Executive Director of Guardians of the Reef, BUEI Board Member and
Chairman of the Bermuda Historic Wrecks Authority - Jeremy Deacon, News Editor at The Royal Gazette
- Janos Lengyel, Bermuda 3D Printing
- Michelle St. Jane, Our World Too (OW2) Bermuda CEO and Co-Chair responsible for
Bermuda Pilot Logistics - Kevin Glinton, Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) & Education
Coordinator for Eco-Schools Bahamas - Ryan Dyment, Co-Executive Director of Eco-Schools Canada
- Ali Hochberg, Outreach Manager at Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Programme
- Shana Hollis, Artist and Chairperson of the Bermuda Arts Council
To view this year’s YRE submissions, click HERE!
