Mekong River Commission

Young artists share dreams of the Mekong

MRC No.04/04
Phnom Penh , 07 April 2004

 

Twenty talented youngsters from the Lower Mekong River Basin have been named winners of an art competition organised by the Mekong River Commission (MRC).

MRC Officer-in-charge Dr Dao Trong Tu announced the winners of the “Our Mekong, Our Future” art competition at a special function held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Wednesday, April 7, 2004.

Nearly 2,000 youngsters from the four Lower Mekong Basin countries of Cambodia, the Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam took part in the contest, which was launched late last year. The contest was open to children between the ages of 9 and 15 years old and prizes were awarded in five age categories. The 20 winners were then judged again to select the five top entries for the whole region.

The contest, which was organised with the co-operation of several NGOs, aimed to get the children of the river basin thinking about what the Mekong meant to them and what they would like to see happen to it in the future. Funding to organise the competition came from the Thiess International Riverprize, which was awarded to the Mekong River Commission in 2002.The Riverprize provided a cash award to the Mekong River Commission in recognition for its achievements in river management, conferred by a judging panel including representatives of universities, the Global Water Partnership, the International Water Association and the Australian Academy of Science.

“We were delighted with both the number and the high standard of entries from the children,” Dr Tu said. “The range of topics covered in the pictures reflects both the present lifestyle that many of these children enjoy and their hopes for a future where their river is protected so it can continue to provide them and their families with the same livelihood and pleasure.”

A panel of judges from the four member countries of the Mekong River Commission selected the winners. The best entry in each age group in each country receives a cash prize of US$50, art materials and a book about the Mekong. The best entries in the region receive a cash prize of US$100, art materials and a celebration at their school. The winner’s schools will also receive free art materials.

 

Winners of the “Our Mekong, Our future” Art Competition

Country winners

Cambodia
Theum Sophal, age 15; Sem Socheat, 10; Keut Veasna, 13; Sok Veasna, 14; Prak Sam Oun, 12.

Vietnam
Nhung Thi Tuyet Nguyen, age: 12; Linh Thi Thuy Thai, 14; Trung Thanh Nguyen, 15; Suong Ngoc Thanh Nguyen, 13; Huong Thi Tuyet Tran, 11.

Lao PDR
Savansay Zouvanpheng, age15; Nouk Phetmixay, 13; Phimmasonh Phlilachan 14; Phasouriya Khanthavilay, 12; Olot Kormanisay, 11.

Thailand
Vorravich Pan-in, age 12; Theerawat Chansatam, 14; Manee Sinpaiboonterd, 15; Naorawat Buddee, 11; Tanuch Prommetta, 13.

Regional winners
Sok Veasna
Prak Sam Oun
Suong Ngoc Thanh Nguyen
Huong Thi Thuyet Tran
Savansay Zouvanpheng

For more information, please contact:
Ms Virginia Addison, Communications Officer,
phone: local - (012)807-979 and international (855-12)807-979;
fax: (855-23)720-972 or
email virginia@mrcmekong.org

 

 

 

 

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