“Paris here I come!” Blind13 year-old girl from West London set to jet off to Paris after winning writing competition

Earlier in the year blind and partially sighted 11-18 year olds living in West London were given the chance to win an exclusive trip to Paris by entering a creative writing competition organised by the Royal London Society for Blind People (RLSB) and supported by the Heathrow Community Fund.

To enter the “Writing my way to Paris” competition, budding authors had to submit a 700-word story based around 24 hours in the French capital.

The competition was launched to celebrate the new ‘RLSB West London Social’, a free group for blind young people living in West London. Members of the group are taught life skills, helped to build self-confidence and more importantly, make life-long friends.

Today three young people were given the news that they had won the competition.

Thirteen year old Zaynab Rehman from Hounslow took first place with her evocative tale about a ghost that haunts a Parisian hotel following a murder.

RLSB Communications Director, Emma Thompson said of her story; “Zaynab’s story was a real thriller. She is clearly a very talented young writer who can make the reader really feel something with her prose. It was a pleasure to read and I hope she continues writing stories. Who knows how far she could go.”

Ms Zaynab will receive two flights to Paris, courtesy of British Airways and spending money donated by the Heathrow Community Fund.

The competition also had two runners up, Asif Manzar from Ealing and Esme Monk from Addlestone. Both have received technology vouchers donated by the Heathrow Community Fund.

Caroline Nicholls, Director of the Heathrow Community Fund went on to say; “Our organisation is committed to supporting local young people to raise their aspirations, which is why we funded RLSB’s West London Social and Peer group. I hope the competition also offered an exciting challenge and maybe inspired some entrants to take up creative writing. The quality of the stories suggested they should!”