Thursday, March 28
05:42 PM

Writing competition celebrates friendship

29 May 2022

Muscat – The prize distribution ceremony of the Dar al Atta’a Let’s Read programme’s 16th children’s writing competition was held on Saturday. The event was held at the Let’s Read charity bookshop and library in Oman Avenues Mall.

This year, children aged eight to 18 years were asked to write an essay, in English or Arabic, about friendship. The competition was held in three age categories – 8-11, 12-15 and 16-18.

Jane Jaffer, chairperson and founder of Let’s Read, said, “I believe friends hold up a mirror so that we can see ourselves in a more positive light.”

Quoting French novelist Marcel Proust, she said, “Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”

According to Jane, the theme prompted many participants to write about classmates; some also wrote essays on parents as friends.

Ward Rami Ali Abudayyeh, a 15-year-old student from Al Injaz Private School, who claimed the first place in the 12-15 years category, wrote an essay his Grade 6 classmate who he was separated from after changing school. “Though we are not in the same class anymore, I have amazing memories of our friendship,” he said.

Amna Nadeem, student of Hay al Sharooq International School, Sur, claimed third place in the 8-11 category. “I wrote about my cousin because she is the ‘bestest’ friend I have. She is also very kind, and she makes serious things funny. She always helps me when I am in difficulty, for instance if I fall while I am playing.”

Sajad Alani, a 17-year-old student of Al Injaz Private School, who won second place in the 16-18 category, wrote about a classmate who helped him catch up with schoolwork. “When I am absent from school, he takes extra notes for me. He comes straight from school to my house and, sometimes, even writes notes in my books”.

Sajad described his friend as having a “big effect on him”.

He wrote on his experiences and feelings about his friend in a 500-word essay. “But I feel even 5,000 words are not enough to express his true friendship”.

Al Jouri al Qartoobi, a 13-year-old student of Omar bin al Khattab Institute for the Blind, was given a special prize for her essay written in Braille. Her teacher translated it into Arabic for submission for the writing competition. She wrote about her classmate and friend who is partially blind.

The nine judges for the competition had a difficult task assessing hundreds of entries received for the competition. Mila Gabruck, one of the judges, said, “These entries, written by children and teenagers, reveal a complex world where friends are celebrated and offered emotional support. They laugh together and share positive experiences. But these essays also reveal loneliness, longing and sadness.”

Another judge, Elizabeth al Sarhani, noted and commended the fact that there were more entries written in Arabic this year.

“The writers have shown how it is possible to have a meaningful friendship, whether it be with a parent, a family member, a classmate or a pet,” Elizabeth said.

Syed Fasiuddin

© 2021 Apex Press and Publishing. All Rights Reserved. Powered by Mesdac