June 12, 2004

‘My Bright Smile’ Global art contest
‘My Bright Smile’ Global Art Contest for the fourth year in succession was organized recently. Renowned artist and social worker Jimmy Engineer was the chief guest.

The contest was open to children aged between 6 to 9 years and received a total of 12,600 entries from all over the country. The brilliant artwork submitted by young artists are exceptional in thought as well as execution. All the 12,600 participants will be awarded “My Bright Smile” certificates.

Jimmy Engineer who selected the Pakistani winners said that “it was a very difficult task to choose the winners. There is a lot of hidden talent in the youth of our country that needs to be promoted through such events”. The 12 short-listed local winners eligible for the global contest received attractive prizes, while special prizes were awarded to the remaining 100 winners.

The 12 artworks of the Pakistani winners will be sent to participate in the Global Art Contest in New York. These global winners artworks will be printed in ‘Bright Smiles, Bright Futures’ Global Calendar of 2005. The 12 international winners will be awarded Colgate-Palmolive ‘Bright Smiles, Bright Futures’ scholarship amounting to $250, and Colgate- Palmolive Classroom Grant will be awarded to each of their schools, amounting to $500.

Students awarded certificates on environment awareness
Lectures and awareness trips to the beach were organized by Ms Nuzhat Siddiqui, environment expert in Karachi city government, and Shammir Ali from WWF, as part of training to teachers and students of secondary and lower secondary levels. Here they were taught about mangroves and the roles they play in the ecosystem. On Global Environment Day they were awarded certificates by various dignitaries and marine experts at WWF Wetland Centre at Sandspit.

Dr Ejaz Ahmad, deputy director, WWF, talked about the contribution WWF was making through awareness programmes in various places by involving teachers and students all over the country. He also spoke of the importance of keeping our environment free from pollution. Shammer Ali of WWF education leader explained the methodology to train 96 teachers, 208 girls in 20 schools for girls and 12 of boys.

Shujaat Kazmi of Liaquatabad lower secondary school and Hina Ahmad of Little Folks School urged the seniors to make this world a healthy place for them to live. “We want to enjoy the same privileges of a viable environment when we grow up as you found it in your younger days,” she said. Hinting at the city administration she requested them to ask the city Nazim to plant a tree in every school. “I have learnt that he has not done this so far,” she smilingly nudged them. Mr Nasim Siddiqui who represented Mr Niamatullah, committed that he will get that done.

Captain Mohammad Arif, General Manager, Southern Sui Gas, who chaired the function, promised to supply 2,000 saplings for the schools and sought help from children and students to improve the environment.

Madiha Nishat won first prize in poster making and Waqar Ahmad stood first in the essay competition on environment. Both received prizes for their achievements.

The students and teachers were shown round the famous marine institute in which students from Netherlands had also contributed financially.

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