HER dream of travelling to Japan came true for 10-year-old Athalia Clarke last August. The Queen’s Prep student had entered her artwork depicting a Leaf Car as her vision of a car for the future, in the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest, and she emerged the winner in her age group category. In the history of the international competition, Athalia was the first Jamaican student to win the prize trip to Japan.

Fast-forward to 2018, and Toyota Jamaica has announced the 2018 Toyota Dream Car Art Contest, inviting students to use their best creative expression to enter the competition for their chance to win great prizes for themselves and their schools, and possibly that trip to Japan.

For a chance to win the prize trip to Japan, students up to 15 years old who are attending school should submit coloured artwork depicting their vision of transportation in the future under the theme ‘Draw Your Dream, Drive Your Future’.

“In each of the two years that Toyota Jamaica has hosted the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest in Jamaica, we have seen some amazing artwork from students across the island. It has been delightful to see their boundless imagination emerge on the page in the form of their art pieces depicting their vision of a car of the future,” said Tracy-Ann Fletcher, assistant marketing manager of Toyota Jamaica.

“When the news came that Jamaica’s Athalia Clarke was selected as a finalist in the eight-to-11-year- old category, we were delighted. We are very confident that this year other Jamaican students have a great chance to do the same.”

Entries are accepted in three age categories – Under eight years, eight to 11 years, and 12-15 years old. Nine winners will be selected, the top three from each age category to win prizes of a Samsung tablet, book vouchers and more.

Toyota Jamaica is encouraging schools to share this opportunity with their students, as the institutions also benefit from the competition.

“This year we have added a new element and the schools will also win prizes this year,” Fletcher advised.

“Prizes will be awarded to the schools of the top students in each category, and there is also a prize for the school that submits the most entries.”

The top three artworks in each category will be forwarded to Japan for entry in the global competition. When the winners are announced, if successful, the Jamaican entrant(s) will be among 30 world winners who, along with a parent or guardian, will receive an all-expense paid trip to Japan for the awards ceremony.

Deadline for entries is Friday, February 16, 2018. Entries are to be sent to any Toyota Jamaica location in Kingston, 427 Spanish Town Road, or 93 Old Hope Road, or Lot 1200 Ironshore Industrial Estate, Montego Bay. Visit www.toyotajamaica.com or Toyota Jamaica on Facebook for more details, entry forms and competition rules.