ASEAN announces youth drawing contest

With Cambodia now at the helm of ASEAN, the Kingdom’s children may have a new opportunity to make their voices heard through a drawing contest organised by the regional body.

“The children of ASEAN are our next generation in the making, the future leaders of this region,” Durudee Sirichanya, Assistant Director of The ASEAN Secretariat’s Public Outreach and Civil Society Division, said.

“We would like to involve youth at an early age to raise their awareness and get them actively involved in ASEAN activities.”

The inaugural contest, themed ASEAN: One Community, One Destiny, is open to youth between the ages of 6-12 and 13-18 in all 10 member states, and is being held in commemoration of the 45th anniversary of ASEAN.

It will first be held at the national level, where one best entry from each age category will be nominated to compete at the regional stage.

The regional winners will receive certificates signed by the ASEAN Secretary-General, a cash prize of US$500 each, books and souvenirs. Other participants whose works are chosen to represent their countries will receive certificates and prizes equivalent to $100.

“In addition to promoting artistic talent in youth, the competition is essentially about what they have in common with one another,” Sirichanya said.

“This identity must be fostered early on so that when they become future leaders, they have a better idea of what works best in developing their countries and ultimately, the region.”

In line with the anniversary celebrations, ASEAN is preparing to roll out new publication materials as well as conduct a series of promotional events and dialogues to maximise their youth outreach efforts.

“We will continue to explore other avenues involving youth participation, such as sporting events and photo competitions, which we hope can materialise in the near future,” Durudee Sirichanya added.

Sourced:Phnom Penh Post