HE Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali – Minister of Education, UAE Ministry of Education inaugurated yesterday the drawing exhibition under the theme “Healthy Minds in Healthy Bodies” at Burjuman Mall in presence of HE Dr. Yusri Abdelfattah Al-Jamal – Minister of Education, Egypt, Mats Persson – Chief FITTEST, Chief Operations, WFP Field & Emergency Operations Support Office, the winning students and their parents and a big number of invitees and media representatives..
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), together with the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education awarded the finalists of the 2006 WFP Children’s Art Competition which is running for the second consecutive year.
The 2006 competition received 230 drawings by students from 60 schools in the UAE. Drawings of he top 30 finalists have been on display in Burjuman Mall from 12-18 December 2006.
The drawings under the theme: “Healthy Minds in Healthy Bodies” are part of a silent auction which will raise money for WFP’s Food for Education programs
“We emphasised the importance of participation in this competition for students who had to express what is in their minds about global humanitarian issues. By providing a medium for the youth of today, we are allowing them to show their support through drawings and through the silent auction. The children are also indirectly providing food to WFP’s educational programmes and the children of the UAE are in turn educating other children while learning about these issues,” said H.E. Dr. Haneef Hassan Ali.
“There are many artistic students in the Emirates and we are moved by their interpretation of the subject matter – Healthy Minds in Healthy Bodies. By looking at these talented pieces of art, we can really get an understanding of how the future decision makers in our society will be aware and willing to aid us in eradicating global hunger,” said Mats Persson.
