Calling all Secondary School Students!
The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Agency is pleased to announce the launch of an exciting national competition aimed at encouraging younger persons across Trinidad and Tobago to explore the importance of workplace safety, health and well-being through creativity and self-expression.
As part of the Agency’s ongoing commitment to fostering a strong culture of safety from an early age, the competitions invite students to examine themes related to psychosocial safety, mental health and positive learning environments while developing their expressive communication skills. This competition is happening with the approval of Ministry of Education and will be open to all registered secondary school students.
This competition provides students with a platform to use the power of spoken word to promote conversations surrounding mental health, safety and well-being. Students are invited to submit an original spoken word performance that reflects their personal perspectives on creating safer, healthier environments in schools, workplaces and communities.
The initiative encourages participants to develop confidence, creativity, communication skills and critical thinking while using their voices to inspire positive change.
What is Spoken Word?
Spoken word is a form of creative performance that combines original poetry and expressive storytelling to communicate ideas, emotions and experiences. The OSHA believes in engaging children in discussions about safety, health and well-being. The Agency aims to encourage lifelong attitudes and behaviours that contribute to safer schools, workplaces and communities. These competitions form part of the Agency’s broader public education and outreach programme, which seeks to increase awareness of occupational safety and health issues throughout Trinidad and Tobago.
The competition will officially open on Monday 13 July 2026 and close on Friday 28th August 2026, with winners to be announced on 30 September 2026.
Parents, guardians, teachers and school administrators are encouraged to support students in participating and to help spread awareness of these exciting opportunities.
Are you interested in entering OSHA’s “Words for Well-being” spoken word competition? Here is what you need to know:
Who Can Enter?
• Registered Secondary School students
• Forms 1–6
Judging
Submissions will be evaluated based on:
• Understanding of the theme
• Creativity and originality
• Artistic expression
• Relevance to psychosocial safety
• Overall presentation
How to Participate:
Video submissions should be between 45 seconds and one minute in length and must contain original content. Entries will be submitted electronically using WeTransfer (click here for tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwLH9O8a4UI ) , with detailed submission instructions can be found by clicking HERE.
Exciting Prizes to be Won
Outstanding participants in both competitions will have the opportunity to win:
Tablet for the first-place winner.
Stationery vouchers valued at TT$1,500 for the winning participant’s school.
These prizes recognise not only the students’ creativity but also the important role schools play in promoting safe and healthy learning environments.
Participants are encouraged to review all requirements carefully before submitting their entries.
GUIDELINES FOR SPOKEN WORD COMPETITION SUBMISSIONS
– No explicit/offensive content
– No copyright infringement
– Must be original content
– Winning submissions will be posted to the Agency’s social media
– All submissions must include name, telephone contact, email address.
– If submitting in uniform; please provide written approval from your principal. If not, parental approval is required.
– Parents can assist but submissions must be mainly by participants.
– Entries that do not meet these requirements will not be judged.
– If submitting in uniform; please provide written approval from your principal. If not, parental approval is required.
For further information, please contact the Communications and Outreach Department:
📧 oshacommunications@osha.gov.tt
📞 612-3900 Ext. 271 or 272
🌐 www.osha.gov.tt
The Occupational Safety and Health Authority and Agency looks forward to showcasing the creativity, talent and innovative ideas of Trinidad and Tobago’s young people as they help shape a future where safe and healthy environments are everyone’s responsibility.
All submissions are to be no longer than 45 seconds and should be sent to oshacommunications@gov.tt by Friday 28th August @ 2:00pm using wetransfer (link to tutorial included above)
Good luck!
We are pleased to announce the winner of our “Words for Well-Being” spoken word competition for secondary schools; Xaria Amoroso who represented the Cowen Hamilton Secondary School! Thank you to all our participants. Your time, effort and creativity are all appreciated. Participants will be contacted regarding prize collection
