Subios 2012 art and creative writing contest-Independent primary, Beau Vallon secondary best Subios schools |24 November 2012

The schools received their prizes during a ceremony to launch the Subios art and creative writing exhibition held in the lobby of the National Library yesterday morning.

Along with the two Subios winning schools, pupils from other schools and post secondary institutions who took part in the art and creative writing competitions were also rewarded and an exhibition showcasing the winning entries from all categories is on at the National Library until next week.

The two winning schools each received a digital camera with memory cards and a shield sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Energy.

The first runner-up in both categories also received the same prize while the second runner-up got a shield only sponsored by the same ministry and a book sponsored by Save Our Seas Foundation.

The first and second runners-up in the primary category were Mont Fleuri and La Retraite, while in the secondary category Anse Boileau and Praslin clinched the prizes.
There were altogether three categories in the competition – category A primary 1-6, category B secondary and category C post-secondary – and three competitions in each category – poetry, story-telling and arts.

In all the categories the first three winners received cash prizes sponsored by the Ministry of Education and books sponsored by Save Our Seas Foundation.

The 1st prize winner in category A for poetry was Richiraj Krishnamoorthy from Independent school, Christian Ah-Cheen from the same school won the story-telling category, while Liah Pothin from La Retraite clinched top prize in the arts competition.

The first prize winner in category B for poetry was Yannick Lucas from Beau Vallon, Alessia Lavigne from Independent school won the prize for story-telling while Clara Lepathy from Praslin secondary clinched the prize for the arts competition.

In category C, the prize for poetry went to Lina Denis from NIHSS while Joella Maria from the School of Visual Arts clinched the accolade for the arts competition. There was no prize awarded for story-telling in this category.

Guests at the prize-giving ceremony included ministers, principal secretaries, members of the National Assembly, other government officials, teachers and the pupils themselves.

Education Minister Macsuzy Monday launched the exhibition showcasing the work of the children in which they have expressed their artistic and creative writing skills with regard to describing the underwater world.

“Seychellois children love the ocean and having the chance to celebrate it once a year is like a special gift to us,” one student pointed out.

Minister Mondon said: “Over the years, Subios has remained consistent in showcasing the creativity of our youths, their understanding, sensitivity and appreciation for the marine life.
 This year the competition has again provided our children with another opportunity to explore the fragile and interconnected nature of ocean ecosystems and how human activities are impacting on them.  The exhibits on display are the results of this exploration.”

Meanwhile, Tourism and Culture Minister Alain St Ange officially launched Subios 2012 last night at Beau Vallon.

Minister St Ange said Subios gives us Seychellois and visitors to our shores the opportunity to celebrate the ocean that surrounds us and also the beautiful yet fragile ecosystems which inspire us, entertain us and...most importantly, sustain us.

“Subios with its long legacy of sensitising our population to the wonders of the sea as well as to the challenges involved in protecting our marine world for generations to come, is an apt time for us to reflect on the changing world we live in, on those challenges we continue to face.

And commit ourselves both individually and as a nation to making the changes we need to make and adapting in the ways we must in order to live in greater harmony with the forces of nature which here in Seychelles, manifest themselves most prominently as part and parcel of the mighty Indian Ocean,” said Mr St Ange.