Washington, United States (December 22, 2012): EcoSikh, an international environmental body, launched an art and a creativity contest for youth of Punjab in collaboration with a Punjab NGO called Sukrit. Hundreds of Students from all across North India are expected to take part in this unique competition.
High school and college students are being invited to participate in this contest with the hope that they discover their own creative skills which could be applied for environmental activism. Students can show their innovative skills in writing passages, poems and inspiring slogans. In addition, they can also show their range of imagination in art and in multimedia including making a video or photography provided it is related to the theme of the environment.
This competition was announced in late November on the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, Founder of Sikhism and deadline to register is January 31, 2013.
Dr. Sarabjit Singh, Head of Sukrit, said, “A spiritual person is a caring being — not only for fellows but for the environment too. Saving air, water, earth is also our religious duty. Through Ecofest, Sukrit Trust is hunting for young environmental leaders who will take upon themselves the mighty and challenging task of saving earth’s depleting natural resources and curtaining global warming by switching back to spiritual values.”
EcoSikh India Project Manager, Ravneet Singh says, “EcoFest is a tool through which we might be able to challenge Punjab’s youth to take a leadership role and play a constructive role in shaping the future of the nation and the world. The ideology of Sri Guru Granth Sahib together with the modern science can only help to make difference in Punjab’s current environmental crisis and this present contest would exactly stimulate the participants to think on those lines. With this project we aim to connect with Punjab’s youth and create environmental leaders.”
Sarabjit Singh further added, “We invite all the schools and colleges of Punjab to be a part of this contest. The entries will be received via emails or postage at Sukrit head office in Ludhiana. All prize winners will also receive Certificates of Environmental Leadership along with eco-friendly gifts and cash prizes in dollars. Winners of each category will be announced on March 1, but an overall “EcoFest” winner will be announced by EcoSikh on March 14, Sikh Environment Day. Details of the contest are available on EcoSikh and Sukrit websites.”
The thought provoking topics of Ecofest contest include; Saving the rivers of Punjab, Composting from my kitchen, A world without flowers, How my friends and I cleaned up our street, Rubbish! Who wants it and how can we use it?, Nearer to Nature, Nearer to God: a story about Guru Har Rai Ji, Making my Gurdwara greener, The significance of water/pani in Gurbani and Sikhism, How to make Nagar Kirtans / Diwali / Festivals Green, A short drama or short story about people who began to address the environmental crisis by changing their everyday lives, Finding the wonders of nature around me.