“The Green Homeland in My mind”

By Eric Akasa

The fifth Chinese children’s painting competition was today held in UNEP headquarters Gigiri Nairobi. The competitions which started in 2008 a partnership between UNEP and the Luo Hong Fund aiming to improve the environmental awareness of school children in China.

The winning pictures from the 2012 Chinese children’s painting competitions show the beauty, quirks and challenges of the global environment through the eyes and imaginations of the children aged between six and fourteen years old.

In these year’s competitions, over 620,000 Chinese children submitted paintings and other artworks under the theme ‘The Green Homeland in My Mind’

“This painting competition brings friendship and commitment of people, nations working for the same objective all over the world together.” Points out Achim Steiner UNEP Executive Director. “Having in memory the legacy of the late Laureate Wangari Maathai and her struggle to safeguard environment, this children as well as others all over should be nurtured and emulate Maathai footsteps if we looking for a better coming generation.” Steiner adds.

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner presented the awards to the young painters who later planted trees in the grounds of UN compound in Gigiri.

The painting contest is just one part of the Chinese children’s Environmental education programme also supported by UNEP and the Luo Hong Fund.

In China, a programme on environmental awareness has been integrated into the school curriculum reaching the classrooms of an estimated 12.6 million children since 2008. Additionally, just under 50,000 teachers have received training on the environment and sustainable development.

Each year, Chinese Children’s Environmental Education programme designs a special course for the first prize winners of the painting competition which aims to equip them with the knowledge and confidence to become young environmental leaders and to encourage their peers to take an active interest in biodiversity, sustainable lifestyle and other issues.

During the award ceremony, the 21^st International children’s painting competitions was also announced. This is UNEP’s flagship art and environment event which children from across the world are eligible to enter.

The winning entries from Chinese contest are also entered into the international competition which is organized by UNEP in partnership with Foundation for Global Peace and Environment (FGPE), Bayer and the Nikon Corporation.

UNEP also used the event to officially launch the start of 22^nd International children’s painting competition. In keeping with the 2013 UN International year of water co-operation, the theme of the competition will be Water: where does it come from?