Child artworks go back

ART IN THE PARK: Winners in the Art for Environment Competition sponsored by the Baha'i community of East London were Clarendon's Baveena Nathoo, 13, and Nicole Adams, 12, Southernwood Pre-primary's Kwanele Jokani, 6, and Kelly Galloway, 9, from Clarendon Primary.
Picture by ALAN EASON

By Wendy Sa Joe

EAST LONDON -- The annual Art for Environment Competition sponsored by the local Baha'i community held its prizegiving here yesterday.

The competition aims to create a spirit of caring and appreciation for nature and the environment among children.

It also gives children the chance to share their feelings about the present state of their environment and their hopes for the future.

The artworks were on display at the East London Museum hall where the young artists were presented with awards.

Primary schools from around the city were invited in January to participate and had until May15 to hand in entries.

Competition coordinator Simin Shams said they had received about 2000 entries.

Winners were:

* Kwanele Jokani, 6, of Southernwood Pre-primary in the five to six-year-old section;

* Clarendon Primary's Kelly Galloway, 9, in the seven to nine-year-olds;

* Nicole Adams, 12, from Clarendon in the 10 to 12-year-olds; and

* Clarendon pupil Baveena Nathoo, 13, in the 13 to 15-year-old group.

"We have achieved our goal. A picture says a thousand words. Their love for animals and nature can be seen in their artworks," Shams said.

Master of ceremonies Trever Shaw told the children at the end of the prizegiving, "the future and the environment belongs to you".