Children feted for creativity

MUSCAT, AUG 25

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY) announced the winners of the 2025 Child Culture Award in its fifth edition, an award that aims to foster and enhance cultural and artistic creativity among children and youth, encourage talented individuals, and help develop their skills and nurture their talents.

First place was awarded to Maan al Jardani for his entry titled 'Imagine You Have Your Own Robot', while Aseel al Saadi secured second place on the same topic. Saif bin Khalid al Maawali took third place for his piece titled 'If You Owned a Tourism Company.'

These winners were among the top ten finalists in the two competitions, 'Speak So I Can See You', which targets children aged 7 to 12, and 'Oman Tells Stories,' which is dedicated to writers and authors of children’s literature.

The award ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr Nasser bin Rashid al Maawali, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Economy, at Omantel's Zain Hall, with a notable presence of families and participants. The event featured remarkable performances as children showcased their public speaking skills before the jury and audience.

During the ceremony, the ministry also honoured the five winners of the 'Oman Tells Stories' Competition: Umamah al Lawati, Mohammed al Jasmi, Jameela al Hinai, Abdullah al Mufriji and Intisar al Sinani.

Ahmed al Rashdi, Head of the Child Culture Department at the Ministry, said that the award aims to enhance children’s literary and cultural abilities, while encouraging Omani writers to enrich Arab children’s libraries with works that promote human values and instil loyalty and belonging to Oman’s cultural heritage.

The current edition of the competition witnessed a significant increase in participation. The 'Oman Tells Stories' competition received 124 entries, 84 more than the previous edition, while the 'Speak So I Can See You' competition attracted 523 students in its first stage through three-minute video submissions on assigned topics.

Eighteen entries were excluded for not meeting the requirements, yet the number of participants was still considerably higher than the previous year’s 190 competitors. For the first time, the competition also welcomed seven children with visual impairments and two with mobility impairments, reflecting the award’s commitment to inclusivity.

Maan al Jalandani, who bagged the first spot, told the Observer that he was overjoyed with the result, attributing his success first to Allah, then to his family’s support and his own perseverance. He expressed deep gratitude to the ministry for organising the competition, describing it as an exceptional experience that helped him improve his confidence and skills in public speaking. He added that standing on stage and addressing the audience with confidence was an unforgettable moment that enabled him to give his very best and secure first place.

Similarly, Abdulaziz al Maamari, one of the visually impaired participants, explained that he joined the competition to develop his skills in public speaking and expressing ideas, as well as to share his knowledge and experiences with other children who may participate in the future.

He stressed the importance of such initiatives for children with special needs, noting that they provide a unique platform to highlight their talents and nurture their abilities in an encouraging and supportive environment.