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Silarat Chunchevn, 11, Thailand |
Thai Student is Asia-Pacific’s Winner of the 15th International Children’s Paining Competition
Bangkok, 26 April 2006: Eleven-year-old Silarat Chunchevn’s painting on Deserts and Desertification, the theme of the 15th International Children’s Painting Competition on the Environment, beat more than 3500 entries from Asia-Pacific, to make her the regional winner of this year’s international painting competition.
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Silarat Chunchevn, 11, Thailand |
The painting competition is an annual event that is jointly organized by UNEP, Bayer AG, the Japan-based Foundation for Global Peace and Environment (FGPE) and Nikon Corporation.
“My painting shows a land that is dry and cracked because of desertification. I wanted to show in my painting that desertification is a serious problem and also that we can all can help to save the environment. It expresses my hope to prevent desertification by planting trees which I think is one of the ways of preventing desertification,” said Silarat, who is in the 6th grade at Sarasarnsamutsarn School in Bangkok.
Her painting, along with other winning paintings will be exhibited at various venues in Japan and other countries, as well as on the websites of UNEP and FGPE.
“Since we launched the painting competition in 1990, the situation of the global environment has, regrettably, been become more serious. Children’s paintings have always reflected the state of the crisis in the environment, expressing their concern with unique and creative ideas. At the same time, we find their expressions full of hope and their wishes for a brighter future,” said Ms. Tomoko Yano, Secretary General, FGPE.
Silarat’s entry will move on to the global level, to compete with entries from other regions – West Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and North America. The winners of the global competition will be announced on 5 June 2006 at the international celebrations to mark World Environment Day in Algiers, Algeria this year.
“UNEP puts a high premium on involving children and youth in its environmental programme. We have a strong global and regional children and youth component aimed at engaging them in environmental work and providing them with a platform for action on the environment. This global painting competition is one of the activities,” said Mr. Surendra Shrestha, Regional Director of the UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. “To bring the desertification story to those who are removed from it is not easy, and Silarat has artfully brought this story home to us with a message of hope. I hope that we all draw inspiration from the message that she brings.”
Mr. Dominikus von Pescatore, Senior Bayer Representative for North ASEAN Country Group and Managing Director of Bayer Thailand added, "Looking at the world through the eyes of a child can give adults too a whole new perspective and many new ideas. As part of its partnership with UNEP, Bayer considers it essential to awaken the interest of young people in environmental protection and to take their concerns for the future of our planet seriously."
Silarat wins a US$1,000 cash prize and an all-expense paid trip for her and an accompanying adult to the official World Environment Day celebration to be held in Algiers on 5 June 2006.
A Regional Award Ceremony organized by UNEP will be held at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT), Maneeya Building, Ploenchit Road, Bangkok, on 27 April 2006 at 1400 to 1600 hours.
Representatives from UNEP, Bayer, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand and members of the press will be present at the Ceremony.
The selection of the Regional Winner was done by a jury comprising an art teacher and representatives from UNEP, Bayer Thai Co., Ltd. and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand.
Note to editor:
The theme of this year's Competition was Deserts and Desertification, which is also the theme for World Environment Day 2006. The theme reflected the fact that 2006 has been designated the International year of Deserts and Desertification. Children between the ages of 6 and 14 years were eligible to participate in this year’s Competition.
Each UNEP Regional Office (Bahrain, Bangkok, Geneva, Mexico City, Washington DC, and Nairobi) chose regional winners and also submitted at least 100 paintings to the global selection. The selection of the global winners was made by a Jury comprised of representatives of all the organizers. These global winners will be announced on 5 June 2006 at the main international celebrations to mark World Environment Day in Algiers.
All regional and global winners will receive a cash prize (US$ 1,000 for the regional winners, US$ 2,000 for the global), and there are additional special prizes, such as drawing kits and environmental stationery. The regional and global winners will also travel to the official World Environment Day celebration in Algiers.
A selection of winning paintings will be shown in exhibitions in Algeria, Japan, Germany and other countries. They will also be exhibited on the Internet. In future, selected paintings will be used on UNEP posters, post cards, calendars, and in publications.
Eventually all paintings submitted to the global competition will be held at the National Museum of Ethnology in Osaka, Japan.
The International Children’s Painting Competition on the Environment is part of UNEP's TUNZA strategy for children and youth. TUNZA is a word in Kiswahili that means to “treat with care”. The programme aims to provide young people with information and tools on how to “treat Mother Earth with care” and how to act for a better word.
For further information, please contact Ms. Satwant Kaur, Regional Information Officer, UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, on Tel: 02 288 2127, Email: kaur@un.org