Young artistic talents shine at Peace Poster Competition

“It’s good that this competition is held again this year. It’s a chance for young ones who love art to join. Moreover, it teaches them the meaning of ‘peace’ through artwork,” commented Leong, a parent whose daughter was one of the participants of the PEACE Poster Competition, organised by the Centre for Foundation Studies (CFS) of UTAR Kampar Campus.

Held in collaboration with the Lions Club of Kampar, the poster competition took place at the Multipurpose Hall of UTAR Kampar Campus on 8 September 2024, following a successful debut last year.

This year, the theme of the competition was Peace Without Limits, and a total of 111 students from schools around Kampar participated. The competition was divided into three categories, namely Category A, a colouring contest for students aged 7-8 years old, attracted 39 participants; Category B, a colouring contest for students aged 9-11 years old, had 41 participants; and Category C, a poster contest for students aged 11-13 years old, saw 31 participants.

The event kicked off with opening remarks and a briefing on the competition rules by emcees Ms Chan Wan Ling and Ms Yip Mei Theen. Participants in Categories A and B were given two hours to complete their colouring templates, while those in Category C had three hours to create a poster based on the theme.

Four judges were invited to evaluate the artworks before the prize-giving ceremony on the same day. The judging panel included three UTAR lecturers, namely Ms Chan Jer Jing, Ms Haw Ai Peng, and Ms Foo Pik Yin, along with Ms Ng Wah Leng from the Lions Club.

UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations, Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, graced the prize-giving ceremony, praising the participants’ outstanding achievements. He also highlighted the event’s significance in promoting talent, nurturing future leaders, and fostering contributions to peace development in the community.

In Category A, Lau Chee Hao from SJK (C) Chung Huah, Kampar emerged as the champion and walked away with a trophy. The first runner-up was Low Yu Ki from SJK (C) Pei Yuan, Kampar, and the second runner-up was Cheong Wen Shun from SJK (C) Chung Huah, Kampar. Each received a trophy, along with five other participants who were awarded consolation prizes.

For Category B, Yunnie Chan Yun Yi from SJK (C) Pei Yuan, Kampar was named champion. Lam Ke Qing and Leong Jii Yuu, both from SJK (C) Chung Huah, Kampar, were awarded first and second runner-up respectively. Trophies were presented to each, including five consolation prize recipients.
In Category C, Aw Yong Jia Xin from SMJK Pei Yuan, Kampar won the top prize and received a cash prize of RM150. The first runner-up, Lai Wan Yi from SJK (C) Chung Huah, earned RM120, while Foo Yi Xian from SJK (C) Pei Yuan, Kampar came in third, receiving RM80. Five other participants received consolation prizes of RM50 each.

“I’m glad that CFS has been given the opportunity to work again with the Lions Club of Kampar to gather the talents in UTAR and expose them to the importance of peace through this event,” said CFS academic Ms Elaine Lau Ying Man, the project coordinator. “It’s heartwarming to see the children putting in their effort to present their thoughts of peace through their artwork,” she added.

The PEACE Poster Competition, a prestigious event hosted by Lions Club International, aims to encourage young minds to express their visions of global peace through art. It serves as a platform for children to showcase their creativity while promoting peace.