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Let’s Read Writing Competition winners 2024

14 May 2024 By

Muscat – Here are the winning entries of the 18th Let’s Read Children’s Writing Competition 2024, on the theme ‘My Hero’, declared on May 11:

Lena Bazzi (Category: 8 to 10 years)

Malala Yousafzai changed the lives of girls and women forever. Standing up against the enemy of her family for many years, she risked being killed, arrested or defeated and tortured. But at the end she did it. She stood up for the right of girls’ education. Back then, the tribes of the Taliban had enough power to destroy Swat Valley, in Pakistan, and kill everyone in it. They were unstoppable, or at least, that is what most people thought.

However, despite the trouble, the Pakistani girl continued to fight with invincible words, incredible courage and nearly no fear. She managed to show the world that she wasn’t just a schoolgirl, but she was also a hero fighting for peace. She gave hope and love to those who struggled. And most of all, she was an excellent role model.

Born on 12th July 1997, she lived in the Swat Valley in Pakistan which was surrounded with mountains and nature. She had a peaceful childhood for a few years. She enjoyed playing with friends and spending time with family. That was about to change. In the year of 2008, the Taliban took over the valley that Malala called home.

Everyone was banned from watching television, listening to music and girls couldn’t go to school. Malala started going to school in secret. Her dad was furious and started giving speeches about how unfair life was starting to be. Malala chose to help him argue against the Taliban.

One day, Malala’s dad was sitting next to his daughter and a worried look came on his face.  When Malala asked her dad what was wrong, her father showed her what he was holding. It was a poster. On the poster there was a message from the Taliban saying that they were plotting to kill Malala. But Malala stayed calm. She did not care if that would be her last day alive.

On 9th October 2012, Yousafzai was shot in the head while riding home on the school bus. All her friends were screaming. The driver drove straight to the hospital. Two of her friends were shot too.

She survived the terrible shooting but had to get surgery out of Pakistan. So, she flew to England and the doctors managed to save her life. The whole world was furious at the Taliban for trying to kill a schoolgirl who was trying to promote education. This caused people around the world to sign a petition with over two million signatures! Thanks to Malala’s efforts and determination, the government of Pakistan made a new law allowing all girls to get education.

Malala eventually recovered, but she continued her schooling in England before going to Oxford University to study. She was the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17 years.

This brave, strong and fearless Pakistani teenager showed us that one girl can change the world.

Muhammed Narmawala (Category: 11 to 14 years)

Oman’s 50th National Day buzzed with excitement, and our group of three families, caught by the festive spirit, decided to go on a desert adventure. The weather was perfect for a trip to the Wahiba Sands, a vast expanse of golden dunes promising a memorable overnight experience.

The drive was smooth on the new highway, and we zipped through two impressive tunnels, reaching the petrol station in Bidiyah in two and half hours. This was a common pitstop for desert voyagers, a place to refuel and adjust tire pressure. As we refilled our car, a strange hissing sound startled us.

We rushed out, expecting a deflating tire. To our amusement, we found an Omani gentleman, Salem, squatting beside it, mimicking the sound of leaking air! We were relieved when we recognized him from our previous desert trip. Back then, Salem, our guide, had not only taken us dune bashing but also shown his small camel farm.

Salem didn’t quite fit the typical image of a polished tour guide. Rugged, with unkempt hair and clothes, his appearance hid a wealth of desert knowledge and a reputation for exceptional service amongst tourists. He was a jovial person and loved talking. We shared our plan to stay at a desert camp and invited him for a visit. He readily extended his help, offering assistance throughout our trip.

After a quick lunch, we continued our journey, the camp finally coming into view. Reaching the camp we youngsters, couldn’t resist the allure of the majestic sand dunes. We set off for a dune-bashing adventure.

My cousin, eager for desert driving, took the wheel. Inexperienced in driving on the sandy slopes, he misjudged a steep dune contour. With a jolt, the car plunged two meters, landing deep in the sand. Panic surged as the front bumper crunched and the car refused to budge. We stood helpless in the vast desert not knowing what to do.

Just then, luck intervened. Salem, appeared out of know where. He spotted us from afar. He expertly navigated his car towards us displaying excellent desert driving skills. With practiced maneuvers, he freed our car from sand. To our astonishment, he even managed to revive some car electronics affected by the crash.

Sensing our worry, Salem, determined to lift our spirits, offered us the ultimate dune-bashing experience. Deep in the desert, we went on the wildest ride ever, soaring up and down the steep dunes, screams of laughter echoing through the vastness. We had loads of fun in the sand dunes. Finally, we perched on top of a dune, to watch the mesmerizing sunset. Salem’s desert expertise transformed our disappointment into a wonderful memory.

As dusk fell, we returned to the camp, forever grateful to Salem. To express our appreciation, we invited him for dinner, a small token for his invaluable help. That night, under a blanket of stars, we celebrated not just Oman’s National Day but also the kindness of a friend who turned a potential disaster into an unforgettable adventure.

Loay al Maskari (Category: 15 to 18 years)

Life is so precious and beautiful. We all take it for granted, until something happens to our health, so we need expert help. Doctors do so much to help with that. My father, Sultan Mohamed Juma Al Maskari, is most certainly no exception.

Growing up in a small village called Thabti in Ibra, Oman, he has come a long way from his life on a farm; travelling to study medicine through a scholarship at a university in Scotland, working long, gruelling hours within his profession as a doctor, and is now a renowned orthopaedic surgeon. With his grey hair, distinguishing moustache, and contagious, loud laugh which reflects his humorous and relaxed personality, he is what could be considered a typical-looking father. But he is much more, having a willpower of steel, a brilliant mind, and someone dedicated to everything he loves.

My father is not Superman, although he very well may be him with the number of people’s lives he has touched. Anywhere in public I go with him, someone always approaches us; praising him because he’s either saved their life, or the life of someone they know. I have heard some of these stories and have always left with a feeling of admiration and pride that he is my father.

There is one that makes me especially proud. A young lady was simply enjoying a boat trip on a beautiful sunny day. No one could have anticipated the tragic accident that was to happen, in which she got caught in the propeller of the boat—severely injuring her leg. The doctors were certain that it would require amputation, an option so extreme it is considered a last resort. Yet my father believed her leg could be saved, and with much skill and knowledge, managed to perform many surgeries to do so. While her leg will unfortunately never fully recover due to the severity of the accident, it has still healed tremendously. Such a story shows my father’s heroicness, and yet it is only one of dozens of examples of how he’s saved a person’s life.

Yet to me, he is so much more than just a well known doctor. He is my role model, my teacher of morals and most things right and wrong. He takes me on trips to see the wonders of the world and country I live in, always supporting me with anything I do, yet still giving his advice to steer me in the right direction, and brings out the best in me.

It is very sad that many fathers do not show their sons proper love because they believe showing emotions to be “weak”. My father is the complete opposite, always showing and telling me he loves me. He is constantly tied up with work because of his seniority, yet he has always made time for his family, something that truly shows his strength of character. I could not wish for any other father in the world if I were given the option.

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