THE University of the West Indies (The UWI) is moving to connect high school students with authors, motivational speakers, book lovers, and members of the Mona campus family through a year-long reading campaign to mark its 75th anniversary.

This ’75 Books to Read During 2023′ initiative aims to highlight notable books, and assist high school students to recover from COVID-19 learning losses through live readings, discussions, and motivational sessions with key authors and other stakeholders. In this regard a special anniversary book club has been formed to give students access to valuable resources, backed up by monthly readings on the lawns of the University Chapel, Mona.

In a release the university said students are being encouraged to sign up, pack the book of the month, and head on over to the Mona campus with their blankets for the readings.

The first session is scheduled to take place today, Thursday, February 23 at 1:30 pm, with Dr Terri-Karelle Reid as special guest. She will read from her book, My Brand Compass: The 13 Cs to Building Your Personal Brand. All book lovers are welcomed to join.

Another key component of the initiative is the use of literature to promote peace, and The UWI is poised to launch its ‘Peace Education through Literature Video Competition’ for students on Monday, March 20, 2023.

Jada Powell, a final-year UWI, Mona student, is the ambassador for the 75 Books to Read During 2023 project. Powell, an NCB Foundation Scholar (2020) and co-producer at Talk Up Yout Radio Show, is pursuing a BSc in Marketing.