HÀ NỘI — The Embassy of Denmark in Việt Nam yesterday launched a nationwide painting competition for primary school children themed “I Draw Dreams”.

Some 100 students of the Ngọc Lâm primary school in Hà Nội’s Long Biên District took part in the contest at the launching ceremony held at the school.

The competition is part of the cultural exchange programme "Denmark in Your Eyes"– an activity organised by the Việt Nam-Denmark Friendship Association (VIDAFA) and the Embassy of Denmark in Việt Nam to celebrate the two countries’ diplomatic relations..  

“The purpose of the competition is to create an opportunity for school children to have fun and develop their visual creative skills as well as expand their imagination through playing. The competition also helps strengthen the friendship and mutual understanding of culture between Denmark and Việt Nam, especially among the younger generation,” said Ane Kirsten Andersen, cultural counsellor of the Embassy of Denmark.

“Denmark has been providing support to art education in primary schools for the past 10 years. We are proud that our learner-centred teaching philosophy and approach have now been integrated into the national curriculum and applied in all primary schools in Việt Nam. This painting competition will be in some ways an opportunity for us to see how the new way of teaching art could influence our kids’ creativeness,” said Christian Brix Moller, deputy head of the Mission of the Embassy of Denmark.

All primary school children from Việt Nam can join the competition by sending one painting of their dreams to the VIDAFA’s office on the seventh floor, 105A Quán Thánh Street, Ba Đình District, Hà Nội from August 25 to October 6.

The award ceremony for the competition will be held in November. Some prize winners will be awarded a Canon camera and a set of Lego toys.

“The contest will encourage students to better discover Denmark through their research. Over the last few years, our school has applied new teaching methods in teaching and learning paintings thanks to the support of Danish experts.  Our students can learn how to paint with new materials and draw following the rhythm of music. This encourages more interaction between students and helps them become more confident,” said Nguyễn Quỳnh Nga, arts teacher of the school.

Phan Như Anh, a 10 year-old student of the school, said she had saw images of Denmark online and wants to go there one day.

“I see beautiful and big houses, lot of trees and flowers,” she said while showing her painting featuring colourful Danish houses that she finished at the contest’s launch ceremony.

Last year during the 45th anniversary of Việt Nam-Denmark diplomatic relations, the first "Denmark in Your Eyes" competition was launched. — VNS