Students of Neykurendhoo School are a Game Changer at the International Mangrove Art Contest
Mangroves are one of the most important and productive ecosystems on earth, providing a host of invaluable ecosystem goods and services to the wider world. It is estimated that 12% of the Maldivian Islands has rich mangrove ecosystems in which 15 different types of mangrove plants are seen here. However, mangroves species locally as well as worldwide are environmentally threatened whereas some even face the danger of extinction.
As US based NGO, Mangrove Action Project (MAP), actively work to preserve, conserve, and restore the world’s mangrove forests. As part of awareness, they host a Mangrove Art Contest targeted towards children from all over the word. For the very first time, this year, a Maldivian school had taken part in the contest; but that is not just it! Students of Neykurendhoo School has secured multiple wins at the competition successfully dominating over participants from 34 countries.
Students between the ages of 6 to 16 competed head-on at the contest. A total of 71 striking artworks were submitted by the students of Neykurandhoo School. Three students made the whole nation proud with their big wins and artworks which is seen below;
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Recognizing their work, the winners were awarded certificates and trophies to congratulate them.
The island of Neykurendhoo comprises of a mangrove forest which has been assigned a protected status in 2018. Unfortunately, a massive die-off was observed at the forest during the end of last year. Both students at the school and rest of the islanders are taught the stress on the importance of the mangrove and its preservation.