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NANA Adjoa Baiden-Amissah, the winner of the 2008/2009 Scripps Spelling Bee Contest, has encouraged her peers to participate in the next competition, which starts this month, as the benefits to be derived can last them a life-time. �The competition has made me confident, built my self-esteem and my ability to work under pressure,� she said. Nana Adjoa was speaking at the launch of the Third Spelling Bee Contest at the British Council in Accra last Wednesday. �Besides strengthening of my family ties, as my sister and parents studied with me, my trip to the US gave me the opportunity to take a photograph with Dr Jill Biden, wife of the Vice President of US. I also shopped for my family, friends, teachers and self,� she said. She thanked Ms Eva Bortey, her coach, for the immense help and Spelling Bee for the life-time foundation upon which she can build. Ms Eugenia Appiah, Country Manager of Essence Communications and Ghana�s Franchise Owners of Scripps National Spelling Bee said �The Spelling Bee� is a local spelling competition which promotes healthy competition amongst schools and proves to children that learning does reward. �The competition,� she said, �is open to all primary schools in Ghana and runs from September 2009 till February 2010�. �After the regional competitions, ten regional finalists will camp in Accra for a week to compete in the national finals,� she said. This year, no financial institution provided scholarship for the finalists. �However, the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Accra, is sponsoring schools from Tamale whilst Plan Ghana is sponsoring �Plan assisted schools� from Central and Eastern regions.� She said Essence Communications has been able to secure the Franchise for Liberia to participate in the 2010 international finals of Scripps National Spelling Bee. �The Spelling Bee, is a great opportunity for students to enhance their spelling skills and vocabulary whilst nurturing a reading habit,� she said. She thanked Indomie Instant Noodles, Donewell Life as well as other companies for their support. Mr Stephen Adu, Director, Basic and Secondary Education of the Ghana Education Service who launched the third edition of The Spelling Bee said dwindling reading habit among the youth needs everyone�s involvement as government cannot address this challenge single-handedly. He commended the sponsors and encouraged other organisations and corporate entities to support The Spelling Bee by offering scholarships and grants to deserving schools and spellers to encourage more schools to participate in the programme.