The US embassy, in partnership with Qatar’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), honoured the winners of the fifth annual Young Writers Competition yesterday.
Held at Qatar National Library, the event was attended by William Grant, US charge d’affaires and chief of mission; Dr Donald J Baker, dean of VCUarts Qatar, officials from Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Ghanim al-Sulaiti, an expert in vegan lifestyle, wellness and health, and several officials, guests, teachers, students and their parents.
Top five students in each category were awarded certificates and gifts at the event which was held to coincide with Earth Day observed on April 22 every year. Students from 135 Ministry of Education and Higher Education schools took part in this year’s competition, making it the largest-ever Young Writers Programme. According to the officials, there has been a huge increase in the number of entries compared to the initial years.
The embassy will feature the winning entries in the fifth volume of its Young Writers Journal in July. Charge d’affaires Grant congratulated all the students who participated in this year’s competition.
“I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and their dedicated core of educators and students for making the Young Writers Programme such a success.
The amazing turnout at this year’s competition is evidence of Qatar’s strong educational values, and the desire of young people in this country to achieve academic excellence,” Grant said.
“VCUarts Qatar is delighted to support the Young Writers Competition and to be a part of the ongoing partnership between the US embassy Qatar, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education of Qatar. The Young Writers Programme exemplifies how the richness of creative arts can invigorate a community. Students are uniquely encouraged to think critically about pressing world issues and then transform and share their ideas and thoughts through creative writing,” explained Dr Baker.
Al-Sulaiti exhorted the students to work for a cause and be the agents of positive changes. He also highlighted his journey and the changes that he had to undergo in his course of studies and later life.
The Young Writers Competition is part of the larger Young Writers Programme, designed to encourage Qatar’s youth to read, write, and think critically about important topics in their society. Since the programme’s start in 2014, Ministry of Education and Higher Education school students have participated in the programme through writing workshops and the annual writing competition.
Winners of the Young Writers Competition with the officials yesterday. PICTURE: Nasar K Moideen
