(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- A prize-giving ceremony was held on Thursday at 8pm at the Al Qurm 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.
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 that these problems were having on the 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, i. e. vocabulary, grammar and presentation.
By becoming aware of global issues and learning about 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 the 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, said, '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 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 Qurm Complex. The shop is open from 10am-1pm and from 8pm to 10pm during Ramadan.
Winners of the Arabic entries were as follows: First: Asim al Azri (ten years), Azzan bin Qais School; second: Iram Hamed al Khalifan (15 years), Muscat International School and third: Tasneem al Rumhi (12 years) Hay al Sharouq School. Winners of the English entries were as follows: First: Omar Issa al Harrasi (nine years), Al Injaz Private School; second: Jana Eberlein (eight years) As Seeb International School and third Salim al Harith al Mandhary (eight years), Al Injaz Private School.
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