LocationsOrganized within the "Inclusive Decarbonization Activity - IDA" project
Award ceremony for the winners of the drawing competition "Clean air - green life"
April 14, 2023
The United Nations Development Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNDP) hosted the award ceremony for the winners of the drawing competition on the theme "Clean air - green life", that was opened for students from 5th to 9th grade of Elementary Schools from Banja Luka, East Sarajevo, Mostar, Sarajevo and Tuzla.
The NGO from Japan Ipil Ipil no Kai has been organizing this competition with elementary schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina for many years, in cooperation with city administrations. This year's competition was joined by UNDP through the project "Inclusive Decarbonization Activity" (IDA), which was financed by the Government of Japan in the amount of USD 1.87 and implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the past 12 months, this project has initiated important activities on the introduction of the mechanism for the just transition to a low-carbon economy in BiH.
Adela Pozder-Čengić, Head of the Good Governance Sector, greeted all the guests on behalf of the UNDP, and thanked Japan for its long-term partnership with UNDP, including through the IDA project, which is part of UNDP's global initiative 'Climate Promise', helping 120 countries around the world to meet their climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.
About 34 elementary schools participated in the competition and sent around 690 drawings, 35 of which were selected as winners by a five-member evaluation commission, as they illustrated the importance of clean air for a healthy life and future in the most creative way. All winners were awarded with valuable prizes, which are also environment-friendly, such as smart benches, e-scooters, bicycles and solar backpacks, with the aim to encourage e-mobility, emission-free motorized movement and the use of renewable energy sources.
One school from each city that participated in the competition was awarded with smart benches that will be installed in their schoolyards. Based on the largest number of best-rated drawings received from each school, the winners in this category are Elementary School “Aleksa Šantić” from Sarajevo, “Jovan Dučić” from Banjaluka, “Petar Bakula” from Mostar, “Sjenjak” from Tuzla and “Sveti Sava” from East Sarajevo. The award certificates were presented to them by H.E. Masami Kinefuchi, Ambassador of Japan in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"Thanks to everyone who participated in this competition. From the large number of high quality drawings received, it was difficult to choose which are better than the others. Congratulations to all the selected individuals and schools. I am proud that you thought about the environmental situation and presented it through your drawings. You should be proud too, and I encourage you to continue thinking how to improve the environment and work together to develop your country."H.E. Masami Kinefuchi, Ambassador of Japan in Bosnia and Herzegovina
A winning drawing was selected from each city, and the following students were awarded with a bicycle:
Anđela Talić from Elementary School “Petra Bakule” in Mostar,
Božana Pajić from Elementary School “Sveti Sava” in East Sarajevo,
Hasena Zlatarac from Elementary School “Ćamil Sijarić” in Sarajevo,
Lamija Mujić from Elementary School “Sjenjak” in Tuzla, and
Teodora Novaković from Elementary School “Borislav Stanković” in Banja Luka.
The authors of the other 30 best drawings were awarded with a solar backpack containing smart notebooks, Bluetooth headphones and a drawing kit from Japan. The awards were handed over to them by the President of the NGO Ipil Ipil no Kai, Toshiko Ito, who stressed that, as in previous years, all winning drawings will tour Japan and be exhibited in many Japanese cities.
Three teachers whose classes sent the biggest number of drawings were awarded with e-scooters for their engagement and effort to motivate their students, which were presented to them by Tamara Bajkuša Spahić, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who thanked the schools and students for their participation.
"I am happy that we had the opportunity to involve young people in this important process in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to create and spread innovations and changes. The energy sector is one of the most important for the economic development of the country. We are grateful to UNDP and the Government of Japan for the support provided through the IDA project.”Tamara Bajkuša Spahić, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina
