Japanese association launches worldwide children's picture competition

The IE-NO-HIKARI Association in Japan is currently organising the 22nd Annual World Children’s Picture Contest. This contest has been orgainsed since 1993 with the aim of creating friendship among children all over the world as well as to assist in the development of their personality.

This year’s theme is 'The Environment' and participants are being asked to draw pictures in relation to Agriculture, Farming, Nature, Local People or even people within the Family Environment.

The organisers will choose one hundred and twenty winners from all the pictures submitted, 20 young people will be awarded a Gold Prize, 40 young people will be awarded a Silver Prize and 60 young people will be awarded a Bronze Prize.

All the winners will be awarded a certificate of merit as well as a commemorative gift. 80 young people will be awarded a certificate of merit and they will be given an Honourable Mention. Some drawings may also be used for promotional material in Japan.

In last year’s edition, Sarah Bulteel, a 13-year-old Maltese girl received an Honourable Mention certificate for her picture entitled ‘My Village Festa'.

The competition is open to all children between the ages of 6 and 15 from all over the world. Each participant may not submit more than one picture, and each picture must be the work of one young artist only. Any materials may be used in creating the artwork. The picture should not be larger than 728mm by 515mm and should not be thicker than 3mm. For further information, one can call on 2148 5180 or email on [email protected].

All children, living in Malta and Gozo, interested in participating in this important event are required to submit their drawings to the Office of the Commissioner for Children, 16/18, Tower Promenade, St. Lucija, SLC 1019 by not later than Friday 12 September, 1.00p.m.

The drawings will then be sent by the Office of the Commissioner for Children to the organisers in Japan. On a separate sheet of paper, all participants should write the title of the picture as well as their name, age, date of birth, address and contact telephone number.

The awards will be announced in January, 2015