(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- A Prize-Giving Ceremony was held on Thursday 17th May at 8pm in the Al Qurum Complex to honour the winning entries of the annual Children's Writing Competition and award prizes to the students.
Jane Jaffer, Chairperson of the Let's Read Programme for Dar Al Atta'a welcomed the students and their families, friends and teachers to the event. She thanked the two sponsors of the competition; Sweets of Oman and Oman Perfumes LLC.
Appreciation was shown to the ten judges of the Writing Competition; Bronja Rate, Hebah Bassam, Nalini Subramanian, Jane Jaffer, Ratna Chandrasekhar, Rithu Metha, Ruchi George, Hana Al Sarhani, Elizabeth Al Sarhani and Bassam Abdul Latif Al Saleh.
Three hundred and thirty entries were received from nineteen different schools across the country. The theme of this year's competition was: 'How to Make the World a Better Place.' The students researched major world problems and described the negative impact these problems were having on society and on the environment. The winning entries offered creative solutions to deal with various global issues.
The entries were graded according to three different age groups, in either Arabic or English. The judges awarded points according to the following criteria: detailed research and description of a problem and providing a creative solution. Points were also given for the quality of the writing ie. vocabulary, grammar and presentation.
By becoming aware of global issues, and learning of their negative effects on society, the students were given the opportunity to develop a greater sense of responsibility and a new level of maturity. By thinking 'out of the box', to try to find solutions to difficult issues facing society today, the students were encouraged to think creatively.
The judges spent weeks reading and assessing the entries. They were impressed by the quality of the writing. The entrants described the negative effects of many issues including; bullying, social media, poverty, air and marine pollution, racism, deforestation and corruption. One of the judges, Hebah Bassam, commented; 'Some of the entries really impressed me. With simple but effective vocabulary, the students wrote passionately about global issues and suggested many achievable solutions. These entries were original and heartfelt.'
Jane said that all the participants of the competition were winners in so far as they had all researched world issues, thought up imaginative solutions, and submitted their entries. The audience applauded the budding writers as the winners received their prizes and certificates. (Winners who were unable to attend can collect their prizes from the Let's Read Book Shop in the Al Qurum Complex. The shop is open from 10am -1pm and from 8pm to 10pm during Ramadhan).
Winners of the Arabic Entries:
1st Prize: Asim Al Azri 10 yrs Azzan bin Qais School
2nd Prize: Iram Hamed Al-Khalifan 15 yrs Muscat International School
3rd Prize: Tasneem Al Rumhi 12 yrs Hay Al Sharouq School
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Winners of the English Entries:
8 -11 years
1st Prize: Omar Issa Al Harrasi 9 yrs Al Injaz Private School
2nd Prize: Jana Eberlein 8 yrs As Seeb International School
3rd Prize: Salim Al-Harith Al Mandhary 8 yrs Al Injaz Private School
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12-15 years
1st Prize: Bedis Fakhfakh 14 yrs Lycee Francais de Mascate
2nd Prize: Sana Narmawala 13 yrs Indian School Muscat
3rd Prize: Margot Baudet 14 yrs Lycee Francais de Mascate
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16-18 years
1st Prize: Jeremiah Thomas 16 yrs Indian School Ghubra
2nd Prize: Ouijdan Dalhi 18 yrs Lycee Francais de Mascate
3rd Prize: Nandita Radhakrishnan 16 yrs Indian School Ghubra
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Honourable Mentions: (near winners)
Yousef Hani Fuwad 9 yrs Al Injaz Private School
Louna Raad 17 yrs Lycee Francais de Mascate
Nifemi Akomolafe 18 yrs Al Injaz Private School
Best Entries from other participating schools:
Rahat Shakeel 16 yrs Indian School Salalah
Victoria Osho 16 yrs Muscat International School
Azzan Ahmed Al Riyami 11 yrs The Sultan's School
Mevin Paul Pradeep 12 yrs Indian School Maabela
Midhuna Ramesh 14 yrs Indian School Wadi Kabir
Eva McKerracher 13 yrs British School Muscat
Muhammad Dawood 9 yrs Beacon House School
Shailee Mahajan 9 yrs TAISM
Tharindu Namal Weerawardhana 10 yrs Sri Lankan School Muscat
Ryan Thomas Benny 11 yrs Indian School Darsait
Basmallah Al-Rumhi 13 yrs Hay Al Sharouq Int School
Nasser Mohammed 12 yrs Future Pioneers Private School
Fatma Al Zahraa Ali Al Lawati 14 yrs Qurum Private School
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