Chu Hà Giang from Hà Nội's Nguyễn Gia Thiều School won the grand prize. Photos courtesy of organisation board

HÀ NỘI — Elementary and secondary students nationwide were honoured at the painting contest Denmark in Your Eyes 2023. 

The contest's organisers, Việt Nam Denmark Friendship Association (VIDAFA) and the Embassy of Denmark, announced 62 individual and three group winners at the award ceremony in Hà Nội on Tuesday. 

The grand prize went to a collage painting entitled A Call from the Blue Ocean by Chu Hà Giang, a 6th grade student from Hà Nội's Nguyễn Gia Thiều School.  

"Marine pollution is a risk that our world is facing," Giang said at the award ceremony. "With my painting, I would like to call out for our joint efforts to save the ocean. Even small and simple deeds will count."

The contest received support from elementary and secondary school students nationwide. More than 21,500 paintings and artworks were submitted from 256 schools and clubs in 42 provinces and cities. 

The panel of judges comprised acclaimed painters from Kim Đồng Publishing House and Thiếu Niên (Youth Vanguard) and Nhi Đồng (Children) newspapers.

"The Denmark in Your Eyes contest is a unique way for us to reach beyond the ongoing government-to-government cooperation of our Green Strategic Partnership and engage the children and youth of Việt Nam," said Danish ambassador to Việt Nam Nicolai Prytz at the award ceremony.

Ambassador of Denmark Nicolai Prytz (the tallest man) takes a photo with winning students.

"The submissions are a testament to the great interest and strong commitment of the young Vietnamese generation in a green future for all.

"Their messages and stories remind us of the importance of involving, empowering and mobilising young generations to take action and make the changes they want to see in their communities and the world around them."

Sixty-one individual awards, which include two first prizes, three second prizes, six third prizes and 50 encouragement prizes were given to students from 22 different provinces and cities from the northern Hà Giang and the southern Kiên Giang.

The Union of Friendship Organisations of the southern Cần Tho City, Sentia Inter-level School and Nguyễn Siêu Primary School in Hà Nội won the group prizes.

The first contest took place in 2016 on the celebration of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Việt Nam and Denmark. It has been organised every one or two years since then with a new theme, but always with a strong focus on environmental issues. — VNS