Children Flock To Art Contest Workshops
“The Energy Story in Colors” – Saudi Aramco’s 30th Children’s Art Contest – was launched Sept. 1 and has allowed children in various cities throughout the Kingdom to participate.
Organized for children ages 6 to 12, the goal of this year’s program is to raise awareness among children, their families and teachers about the importance of energy conservation.
At al-Rashid Mall in al-Khobar, children participated in interactive presentations on energy conservation and received certificates afterward. Many children created artwork at weeklong workshops in early October, and those works will be evaluated by artists, with the top 20 winners to be announced Nov. 3.
Sufia Rashad, 7, drew a computer plugged to power, but through the drawing she sought to find a solution to make the computer operate on alternative energy sources. Sufia said that she learned a great deal about energy from the educational films and now understands why her father always asks her to close the water faucet or turn off the computer to conserve water and energy.
Monirah Al-Qahtani, administrator of Saudi Aramco’s Corporate Brand Management Division, said the booth received about 350 children in only two days. “No doubt we believe school and family play a pivotal role in the child’s education process,” she said. “However, we must have other educational factors to raise the awareness of children. We tried through the energy theme to help children contribute in finding a solution to the problem, rather than becoming a part of it.”
The exhibit and the workshop will not be for mall visitors only. The Corporate Social Responsibility team has also organized different visits at other venues.
RIYADH
In Central Province, the Children’s Art Contest was launched in Ghirnatah Mall and was attended by Saudi Aramco’s Riyadh management and a huge number of shoppers.
“Saudi Aramco’s annual children’s drawing contest is one of the Kingdom’s oldest art contests,” said Khalid Al-Rumaih, manager of Saudi Aramco’s Affairs in Riyadh.
Saudi Aramco asked the Ministry of Education to encourage students to participate in the contest, either through art classes at school or by visiting the contest venue in Ghirnatah Mall.
Professional artists volunteered their time as instructors and judges for the children’s submitted artworks.
JIDDAH
In Jiddah, the Children’s Art Contest was opened on Oct. 4 at al-Arab Mall.
More than 500 children and their families attended, along with Abdullah Al-Tazi and Saudi Aramco Affairs Western Province manager Nabil Baashan.
“In this year, the company celebrates the 30th Saudi Aramco Children’s Art Contest in an innovative fashion by choosing an educational subject through which the company strives to unleash children’s imagination and potential,” Baashan said.
In Jiddah, the workshop ended on Oct. 11.
Abdullah Al-Tazi lauded Saudi Aramco’s efforts in promoting the culture of energy conservation, as well as the company’s constructive cooperation with artists to help children express their thoughts through drawings.