Jewel of the East visual art contest roars to life
THE 2024 edition of the Jewel of the East Visual Art (drawing and painting) competition is now underway, with City of Mutare Junior Council inviting young people in the eastern border city to participate.
City of Mutare’s assistant director of Housing and Community Services and patron for the Junior Council, Noel Israel Mushangwe said: “This competition is aimed at recognising children and youth as partners as well as individual human beings, rights-holders and equal, active citizens with the ability to influence service delivery in the city. In addition, youths are given a chance to be involved in city council planning.”
The theme for the 2024 competition is “My City, My Park Children’s Nature Park”.
Children and young people are encouraged to submit their ideal Children’s Nature Park.
The city has identified a portion of the Main Park that will be reserved for children and youth as a Children’s Nature Park.
A nature inspired park focuses broadly on the environment, with aspects such as logs, rocks, dirt, sand, trees, flowers, and water, among others.
The drawing competition is an opporFriday tunity to get the views and designs from children and young people who will be the main users of the Children’s Nature Park.
The drawing/painting competition has six categories, including the Infant Category (ECD Grade Two), Grade Three to Grade Five, Form One and Two, Form Three and Four, Form Five and Six.
The competition is open to all school-going children who are residents of Mutare and is open to artworks in any medium, including those done in pencil, crayons, pastels, paints, markers and mixed media, among others.
Each individual is allowed one entry. There will be three winners for each category.
The Art competition was launched last year with City of Mutare Junior Council in partnership with Gender Links, a leading Southern African women’s rights organisation.
Upon its inception last year, learners from Mutare Boys’ High dominated the competition after scooping top positions in all the three categories.
The gold winner in the Form One and Two ‘My City, My Park’ category was Blessed Pedzeni of Mutare Boys’ High School, while the silver winner was Tawananyasha Mawodzere of Nyamauru High School.
The bronze winner was Hamilton Mandaza of Nyamauru High School.
In the second Form Three and Four category entitled:‘My Safe School Road Safety Zone’, the gold winner was Joshua Tuhwe of Mutare Boys’ High School, while fellow Mutare Boys’ High School learner, Craig Mupoga settled for silver.
The bronze winner for that category was Prince Mutore of Mutare Boys’ High School.
For the third Form Five and Six category titled ‘‘My City, My Future (SMART CITY)’’, the gold winner was Adel Muradzikwa of Mutare Boys’High School, while his schoolmate, Christen Zembe settled for silver.
Richmond Marandu, also of Mutare Boys’ High School, scooped silver.
For the gold winner, a prize money was on offer, while the silver winner got
Those who settled for bronze received
each. All winners received a T-shirt, a certificate and a medal.
Schools that partook in the competition include St Mary’s, Light Academy, Nyamauru High, Mutare Boys’ High, Eastern Heights, Mutare Girls’ High, Elise Gledhill, Ridgeville, Alpha, First Class Academy, Crystal Academy and Sakubva 2 High.