The Messenger Newsletter, the Catholic press of Cambodia, Awards Twelve Children

Posted: 7th November 2005

Ranorn's painting, Water-colour on Cambodian Landscape

Phnom Penh (C.S.C)--Twelve children won the Messenger Newsletter drawing competition. All participants were asked to choose among two subjects: “Cambodian landscape” and “farmers at work”. The competition was first announced in the Messenger, the Catholic Press of Cambodia, in May and it was open to all children aged from 7 to 16. By the end of August, 246 drawings and paintings arrived at the Messenger office.

The CSC (Catholic Social Communications) project manager, Mr. Ly Sovanna said that “the purpose of this competition was to find out how many people are reading the Messenger and let all children have a chance to express their own ideas and feelings through art.” He added that “the result of the competition may make our readers more interested in the newsletter.”

The participants, and so the winners, were divided into two different groups: under 11 years old and over 11 years old. Mr. Phat Samphy, the Messenger’s designer, said that “among those over 11 years old, 2 placed number one, 1 placed number two and two others are encouraged artists. Among those under 11 years old, the number one prize has been assigned to a group of 5 painters, 1 placed number two and 1 placed number three.”

Phal Ranorn, 15, a young boy from the Catholic Church in Kampong Chnang province, 91 Km from Phnom Penh, said he was very surprised when he knew that he won the competition placing number one. He added that he was very grateful to the Messenger for this competition because he had never joined any drawing competition before. Ranorn, winner of the category over 11 years old, painted a very expressive water-colour on Cambodian landscape.

Pheap Ra, 13, co-winner from Kampong Cham province, 124 Km from Phnom Penh, drew a farmer’s house with natural view of rice fields.

Heang Kanavy, 11, from St. Joseph Church (Pshar Touch) in Phnom Penh, number two in the same category, represented farmers at work.

Charya, Sina, Srey Mom, Hang and Hiv are all co-winner of the category under 11 years old. They all represented farmers at work or rice paddies. They are classmates at Pochentong Primary School, Phnom Penh.

Kim Ramy, a grade 2 student from Phlov Krey Catholic School, Nak Loueng, Kandal province, 11 Km from Phnom Penh, placed number 2. “I’m fishing” is the title of his original painting.

Lay Mi Chang placed number 3 in the same category. He is from Prek Darch Church in Kandal province. He told CSC reporters that he has never seen rice fields or palm trees and the teacher had to show him pictures of the countryside in order to help him to participate in the competition.

Among the encouraged artists there are Van Ro from PSE (Pour un Suris d’un Enfant), who represented water falls, and Suon Lai Seak from Kampong Kor, Kampong Thom province, who drew mountains.

The prizes were given to the children in October by staffs of the Messenger. Pictures of the ceremony with the official announcement of all winners will be issued by the Messenger in October (N.28).

Mr. Ly Sovanna said “the results of the competition helped us to understand our readers’ feelings. We hope to have more competitions like this in the future in order to reach a wider range of readers”.

The Messenger Newsletter has started to be published in 2003 by the Catholic Social Communications, Cambodia. It has already distributed 27 issues to all Catholic communities and Catholic NGOs in Cambodia.

Article Source: Catholic Social Communications, Cambodia