THE six students who participated in the Mashramani Art & Essay competition organised by the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), received their prizes on Wednesday at a ceremony held at Cara Lodge in Georgetown.

The competition garnered positive feedback with a total of 51 entries received across both the art and essay categories, representing school-aged youths from several administrative regions of Guyana; from Golden Fleece in Region Two all the way to Kuru Kururu in Region Four.

In the essay category, Anmarie Mahadeo, 14, from Bygeval Secondary, secured the top place with Aurelia Parag, 15, of Queen’s College, coming in second, and Danyelli James, 16, of Dora Secondary, third.

For the art category, Saira Seeram, nine, a student of Dharmic Rama Krishna Primary, came in first, with Danshan Persaud, 13 of St. Winifred’s Secondary, coming in second and fellow student, Melissa Armstrong, 13, third.

Officially launched on February 8, 2024, the competition was held under the national Mashramani theme, “Celebrating our peoples and our prosperity” and was open to children across Guyana to showcase their creative talents and thoughtful ideas.

The aim of the competition was to highlight the contributions, diversity, and unity among the peoples of Guyana, through art and literature.

“Activities such as this provide a platform for our youth to express themselves and promote the value and beauty of our multi-ethnic society,” ERC Chairman, Shaikh Moeenul Hack, said.

The art entries were judged on creativity, originality, artistic quality, and their ability to effectively convey messages of unity and harmony. The essay entries were judged on the understanding and development of the theme, originality, and creative writing.

To ensure the proper and fair marking of the essays and artworks submitted, the ERC solicited the participation of two professionals within the respective fields. Mr. Al Creighton, Dean of the Faculty of Education and Humanities at the University of Guyana, with his distinguished background in education, judged the essays. Ms. Samira Insanally, a professional artist with over a decade of experience, assessed the artwork entries.

“On behalf of the Commission, we extend heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and participants. Your dedication and creativity are truly commendable, and we encourage you to continue using your talents to build bridges of understanding in our society. Your messages conveyed through your art work and essays serves as an effective way to celebrate diversity and promote togetherness. The submissions will be promoted through various educational and awareness material generated by ERC to engage the public,” Hack commented.

“As we celebrate the achievements of our young participants today, let us recommit ourselves to the ideals of tolerance, respect, and unity. Together, we can create a society where every individual is valued and respected, regardless of their background or beliefs,” he added.