The kids thought the task was an easy one since fishing is an every-day activity in their community. So they grabbed their drawing papers and pencils with great zeal…. and after much drawing, erasing, ruffling of papers, peeking at each other’s drawings and some starting all over again, they finally submitted their drawings and waited with indescribable anxiety for the announcement of the winners.

Yesterday marked another world tourism day and Spain hosted the United Nations for this year’s celebration. One of the activities set up to mark the event was a photo competition which had been on for some weeks now. Prizes included a seven-day round-trip to Spain, digital camera etc.

Naijatreks decided to mark World Tourism Day 2012 by organizing the Phase-2 of her Young Writers’ Contest 2012 with a visual art competition for the primary school kids of Ilelema community in Degema area of Niger Delta, Rivers State. The community is one of the numerous rustic enclaves lining the banks of the great Sambreiro River. Fishing and farming are the major occupations of the people.

The children were very happy to engage in the contest. They were asked to draw a man or woman in a boat, catching a fish (because both men and women engage in the fishing profession there). They felt it was an easy task so they grabbed their drawing papers and pencils with great zeal. Since some of the drawing materials did not arrive on time, some of the kids took to the sands in front of their class rooms and started drawing boats and fishermen.

- Ilelema Primary School

More drawing papers arrived- thanks to our marvellous team members- and the drawing competition took a full swing. After a long period of drawing, erasing, ruffling of papers, peeking at each other’s drawings and some starting all over again, they finally submitted their drawings and waited with indescribable anxiety for the announcement of the winners.

Selecting the best drawings wasn’t a very difficult task for us, since most of them drew things we can best describe as ‘scribbles’. We chose the best three drawings, gave them their prizes and also made sure that all participants got a copy of My Niger Delta Paint Book- an initiative of Ntreks Tourism and O’ Studiolabs Uk. The paint book project is aimed at awakening the consciousness of the rural kids of Niger Delta to the beautiful riverine environment that surrounds them.

Belief Moses took the first place, followed by Iyalla West and Wisdom Osima. The first winner got a Rechargeable Mp3 player with radio, USB functions and remote control functions, while the runner-ups got big water bottles.

This is the phase II of Naijatreks Young Writers’ Contest 2012. We hope to hold more editions of the competition before the end of the year.

– Student sharpening her pencil with blade, as they waited for the competition to begin.

  ….still sharpening pencils and getting ready.

…and finally, the competition started.

– While waiting for more drawing papers to come, some of the kids took the sands in front of their class room and started drawing boats and fishermen…

  “…abeg naa let me draw a little too, I will soon give you back” (sharing pencil)

  – More drawing papers arrived and the drawing competition took a full swing. Everyone finally had what they needed.

 - It is not a small something…see seriousness!!

– The school head mistress also decided to participate in the competition…

– one of the drawings

… and after plenty drawing, erasing and some starting all over again…

 They finally submitted their drawings and waited with indescribable anxiety for the announcement of the winners.

  - Belief Moses took the first place,
winner of Naijatreks Young Writers’ Contest 2012 Phase II.

- Moses, posing with his Rechargeable Mp3 player with radio and USB functions as well as remote control . He’s also got his copy of My Niger Delta Paint Book

- Iyalla West took second place,
winner of Naijatreks Young Writers’ Contest 2012 Phase II.

– Iyalla, posing with his water bottle and his copy of My Niger Delta Paint Book.

- Wisdom Osima took third place,
winner of Naijatreks Young Writers’ Contest 2012 Phase II. He’s also got a water bottle and  copy of My Niger Delta Paint Book.

- Moses tests his Mp3 player and dances to a song by Duncan Mighty, with his two runner-ups… “I am a Port Harcourt  Boi yee… am a Port Harcourt  yee..”

- Everyone say “cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssse”

Related Posts:

- Amazing! From the Creeks of Niger Delta Emerges Winner of Naijatreks Young Writers Contest 2012

- Amazing!!! Winners of Naijatreks Young Writers’ Contest 2011

- World Tourism Day 2011: Linking Cultures through Tourism

Filed under: NaijaTrek Foundation, Naijatreks Young Writers Contest