Iranian children win prizes in Japan’s art contest
An Iranian 9-year-old has won a special UNICEF award at Japan’s 25th International Environmental Children’s Drawing Contest, where seven other Iranian children and teenagers also received prizes.
Aylin Javanbakht, from the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults’ center in Aghajari, in southwestern Khuzestan province, received the award in the international category.
The 2025 contest, held under the theme “Let’s Listen to Earth’s Voice,” attracted 9,907 entries from 72 countries. Iran’s institute submitted 280 drawings by children enrolled at its cultural and artistic centers.
Three other Iranian participants won first prizes: Benita Aliyari, 9, from Tehran, Ali-Sadra Ghadiri, 10, from Ardabil, in northwestern Iran; and Naghmeh Mohammadnejad, 14, from Ilam Province in western Iran.
Four participants received diplomas of honor. They were Sanaz Gorji, 9, from Yazd Province in central Iran; Fatima Fathi, 14, from Khorramabad, in western Iran’s Lorestan province; and Elay Ebrahimi, 13, and Sara Shakouri, 15, both from Maku, in northwestern West Azerbaijan province.
The contest aims to raise children’s awareness of environmental issues and encourage them to express their views and concerns about the Earth and environmental protection through drawing.