The Bel Eau pupils getting tips from professionals on how to do their drawing or take pictures
The National Council for Children (NCC) with the support of local artists, designers and photographers, has officially launched the ‘Encouragement’ art and photo competition for children.
The aim is to show them through art and photography skills what they understand on the theme.
The ‘Encouragement’ campaign was launched at Cascade primary school in February.
Participants have until May 28 to send their entries which will be used by NCC as marketing tool for the theme throughout the year.
The poster and photography competition for primary and secondary schools was launched yesterday morning at the reading garden of Bel Eau primary school.
Held in an open-air style workshop, sixty P5 students had the opportunity to gain some tips and advice from professional artists such as Peter Lalande, James Auguste, Rodney Nicole, Bartholomew Bibi and art teacher Roy Stravens on how to work on the theme.
Present at the launch was the chief executive of NCC, Jean Claude Matombe; the director general for Early Childhood and Primary in the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) Cyril Pillay; the head teacher of Bel Eau school, Jane Laurette; the National Assembly member for Bel Air, Norbert Loizeau; district administrator Alexandrine Zelia; the chairperson of Ceps (Citizens Engagement Platform) Jude Fred; teachers; parents; MEHRD representatives and staff of NCC.
Mr Matombe said the aim of the theme was to sensitise everybody on the importance of encouragement in whatever we do.
“For example, our children at times do not perform well and the parents are discouraged. The theme ‘Encouragement” is to give the children a chance through being encouraged that he or she can do better as they need someone to encourage them, to push them further or they will fall back,” he said.
Mr Matombe noted that a simple word of encouragement every day can motivate a child, an adult, a community or a nation to flourish.
Head teacher Laurette said that Bel Eau school is engaged to participate in the competition and encouraged other schools to do the same.
She appealed to teachers, parents and students to give their encouragement to each other and urged them to encourage everyone around them in whatever they do.
The Bel Eau P5 students participated actively in the workshop.
A student, Gareth Charles, who was taking some photography tips from photographer Rodney Nicole, said that he hasn’t made up his mind to take up professional photography but will decide on that later though he likes taking photos with his small camera and on his mobile phone.
Elly Lesperance said she thinks she understands the theme ’Encouragement’ and that she will participate with a drawing.
Source : Seychelles NATION