Tăng Thế Cường, Director of the Department of Climate Change, also head of the “Protect the Ozone Layer, and the Climate” contest’s organising committee, speaks at the awarding ceremony in Hà Nội on Friday morning.— VNS Photo Kiều Vân

HÀ NỘI — Đặng Thị Ánh Hồng, a 13-year-old student in the southern province of Đồng Tháp, and Nguyễn Ngọc Xuân Thảo, 28, in southern Bến Tre province, won first prize in an art contest titled “Protect the Ozone Layer and the Climate” in the drawing category.

Both received certificates, VNĐ10 million (US$428) in cash, and gifts from sponsors.   

The contest jointly held by the Department of Climate Change (at the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources), United Nations Environment Programme in the Asia-Pacific region, aims to promote communication and raise public awareness about climate change and disease prevention in the community.

Tăng Thế Cường, Director of the Department of Climate Change and head of the contest organising committee, said that it had lured the participation and support of State offices and agencies operating art, schools and businesses.

“Authors of different ages and professions, such as students, journalists, architects, and photographers also actively participated, creating a new breath of life for the contest,” he said.

The first prize winner Ánh Hồng said her drawing was named Running out of food and water.

“I live in a poor border commune in Tân Hồng District. My parents work as hired labourers to raise my young sister and me. Every day, I witness fields that are dry due to lack of water,” she said.

Daikin Air Conditioning Vietnam Joint Stock Company and Nagakawa Việt Nam were the two sponsors for the contest.

Organisers said the contest granted 56 awards, including two first prizes, nine-second prizes, 16 third prizes and 29 consolation prizes.

A jury representative said they selected artworks to award prizes according to 'caring a lot about environmental issues and climate change, especially reflecting the negative impact on human health.'

Participants are Vietnamese citizens and foreigners living and working in the country. There were two age groups: 6 to 15 years old, and over 15.

The contest categories include photography, drawing and graphic design categories.

From September 16, 2021, to March 31, 2022, the organising committee received a total of 2,524 artworks from across the country,

The drawing category had 2,080 artworks, the photography category had 331 artworks, and the graphic design category had 113. The entrants were aged from 7 to 68 years old.

Organisers said that five of the winning artworks would be nominated to participate in the Asia Pacific Regional Ozone Climate Art Contest.  VNS