Nguyễn Trần Pha Lê, 13, from Nha Trang, won the Save the Earth comic contest with her depiction of 'Super Artist'. Photo courtesy of UNICEF Việt Nam

HÀ NỘI — A painting of ‘Super Artist’, who has the power to fix the environment with a simple stroke of a paintbrush, received top prize at the Save the Earth comic contest.

Its creator, Nguyễn Trần Pha Lê, 13, from Nha Trang, was announced as the winner at an event to celebrate International Day for Disaster Reduction held on Saturday in Hà Nội.

Super Artist has the power to create more trees, defeat pollution and create more environmental activists who go around the world to help solve climate problems and make the Earth a beautiful place.

The contest, jointly launched in June this year by UNICEF, Việt Nam Disaster Management Authority and the Young Pioneer Council, called on children across the country to create a superhero that can save the earth and fight natural disasters and climate change. 

The organising board received over 16,000 submissions sent by girls and boys of different backgrounds including ethnic minority children and children with disabilities between 10-15 years old.

 “I thank all those who made submissions – their messages, including those on environmental degradation, pollution, water quality and eradicating plastic, have all been heard,” said Rana Flowers, UNICEF Việt Nam Representative.

“Children are more affected by climate change, by increasing natural disasters, and they want to be a part of addressing the challenges – of taking actions today that protect the planet for their tomorrow,” she said.

The jury included well-known comic illustrators and authors from Kim Đồng Publishing House.  

The winner will work in the coming weeks with professional comic artists to transform Super Artists into a animated video and story book. — VNS