By Oluwambe Amodu
Venue: Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom.
The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Global Canvas Art and Poetry Competition is an annual children’s competition which is part of David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation’s Art for Survival programme.It was established in 2004 to encourage young people to express their concern for the environment, and in particular the endangered species with whom we share our fragile planet, through art. In 2010, to mark DSWF’s 25th birthday, the competition was extended to include a poetry section to enable those whose strength lies more in the written word than the paintbrush to make their contribution.
Over the years the titles, which are always on an environmental theme, have included: FRAGILE PLANET; THE HUMAN FOOTPRINT; GLOBAL WARNING; TOMORROW’S WORLD. The title for 2012 is: S.O.S and we invited schools and individuals from around the world to think about the impact that we, as humans, are having on our planet and the species, many of them threatened with extinction, with whom we share it.
Each year DSWF receives between 1 and 2,000 entries from the UK, Nigeria and countries around the world. Following the judging by artist and conservationist David Shepherd, OBE, in early February, around 300 winners and exhibitors were selected for exhibition at the Natural History Museum on Thursday 15th March.
All exhibitors received a certificate, signed by David Shepherd, who is also there on the day to present the winners with some wonderful prizes, including an afternoon in his painting studio for the top prize winners; artists’ materials; books; DVDs and free passes to Marwell Zoo. Special guest speakers help to make the day interesting and educational and have in the past included Gary Lineker,OBE; Saba Douglas-Hamilton; Steve Leonard and artist Emily Lamb.
Entries from Nigeria
The 2012 DSWF Global School Arts and Poetry Exhibition and price-giving is one of the highlight of David Shepherd‘s year and he is thrilled to meet the young artists and poets as well as their teachers from Nigeria. The Competition theme is S.O.S and 120 entries were sent from Nigeria through the coordination and collaboration of Peekok YouthARTS Initiatives with schools and talented out of school youths who have the flea for arts and poetry.
Peekok YouthARTS Initiatives is the only representative of David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation in Nigeria and sole organizer of the competition and other international visual arts and performing arts competitions and exhibitions in UK, USA and Canada.
List of participating Schools
| S/N | Name of Schools | Location | State | No of Winners/Exhibitors (Arts) | No of Winners
(Poetry) |
| 1 | AOCOED International School | Ijanikin | Lagos | 10 | 5 |
| 2 | The Nikdel College | Ibadan | Oyo | 2 | – |
| 3 | Rosebud Primary School | Asaba | Delta | 11 | – |
| 4 | Amuwo Odofin Junior Secondary School | Amuwo Odofin | Lagos | 1 | – |
| 5 | Tane crescent Schools | Surlere | Lagos | 1 | – |
| 6 | Do-etsdot Internatonal group of Schools | Idimu | Lagos | 4 | – |
| 7 | Kingdom Heritage Model School | Ikeja | Lagos | 4 | – |
| 8 | Graceville College | Asaba | Delta | 2 | – |
| 9 | Tai solarin Memorial Seconday School | Amuwo Odofin | Lagos | 1 | – |
| 10 | Holy Mary Academy | Asaba | Delta | 2 | – |
| 11 | Art magic studio | Orile Agege | Lagos | 1 |
All the winners and Exhibitors were invited to the Natural History Museum for the price-giving and exhibition of their work. The following Lists are those that were able to attend the Exhibition in London, accompanied by their teachers and the Executive Director of the Peekok YoutARTS Initiatives group Mr. Akinloye Tunji Olu.
Names of the attendee
- Akinloye Tunji olu Peekok YouthARTS Initiatives
- Oloyede Olajumoke The Nickdel College, Ibadan
- Busola Ogunnowo Kingdom Heritage, Ogba Lagos
- Kunle-Lawal Abebi AOCOED International, School, Ijanikn
- Ifeoma Enemuwe Faith AOCOED International, School, Ijanikn
- Umaru Gadafi AOCOED International, School, Ijanikn
- Oliyide Oloade AOCOED International, School, Ijanikn
- Mesewaku Sewedo AOCOED International, School, Ijanikn
- Onala Kasope AOCOED International, School, Ijanikn
- Damilola Omotoso AOCOED International, School, Ijanikn
Teachers
- Mr. Gandonu Peter AOCOED International, School, Ijanikn
- Mr. Merit Emoedumhe AOCOED International, School, Ijanikn
Nigeria was duly represented at the event with the overall four (4) winning entries in poetry (age category age 14-16). Ifeoma Faith Enemuwe from AOCOED International, School, Ijanikn, Lagos was awarded the overall best in Poetry in her age category and she received her trophy and her price. All other winners also received their certificates and prices. Mr. Akinloye also collected certificates for those that are unable to make the trip to UK.
Post exhibition Tour
After the exhibition the contingents visits some interesting places in the United Kingdom including Nigeria House
Madame Tussauds
National Portrait Gallery
Cathedral
London eye
David shepherd office at Cranley
The young artiste and poets has since return to Nigeria and back to their various schools
2013 Competition
The 2013 competition theme was announced and was posted on DSWF website and Peekok YouthARTS Initiative. The 2013 DSWF theme is “Fragile Future”
About Peekok YouthARTS Initiatives
The Peekok YouthARTS Initiatives (PYI) is a non-profit, non-governmental and non-tribal youth art scheme, offering various arts programmes for youths in Nigeria and Africa in general. It was established in December, 2007 by a group of young professional artists who met at the Top-12 Youthwork projects seminar organized by British Council Nigeria and Youngstars Foundation Int’l in Jos, Plateau State on how to take part in Youth Development Work. PYI started its operations in Jos, Plateau State but now operates fully in FCT Abuja, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, and Delta States through the cooperation and networking of professional artists.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
1. To create, implement and enhance artistic exposure, self-discovery and youth commitment to art education in every part of the country.
2. To develop artistic skills among individuals for self-expression, thereby enhancing a sense of accomplishment, self-esteem and self-worth.
3. To improve positive social attitudes and develop thinking skills.
4. To reduce juvenile delinquency through provision of a year round and after school art educative programmes.
5. To provide individuals with high quality of job training and with meaningful employment.
DSWF Contest’s Objectives
• To encourage the youth in discovering their talent in arts
• To increase the knowledge of young people about the (Climate Change/Global Warming), habitat and the wildlife project of David shepherd (DSWF)
• To increase the number of winning entries from Nigeria in 2012
Project Name: DSWF Global Canvas Schools’ Art and Poetry Competition, Exhibition and Awards – 2012
Theme: “S.O.S” (Save our Seas)
Target Group
The target groups will be children in three categories, to wit:
Category 1- Age 8-10
Category 2- Age 11-13
Category 2- Age 14-16
Success Story
At the end of the contest the participating students have
• Discovered their various talents in drawing and poetry
• Grown to be creative individuals who know and believe in themselves and their gifts
• Known more about wildlife and conservation
• An opportunity to exhibit their drawing in United Kingdom with other kids world wide
• National and International recognition.
• Won lots of wonderful prices.
Young artists & poets enjoy a fabulous day at the Natural History Museum
Winners and exhibitors in this year’s Global Canvas Art and Poetry Competition for children gathered at London’s Natural History Museum this month to see their work displayed and to collect their prizes.
According to David Shepherd who had helped short-list over 2,000 art entries from all over the world this year, he said “The energy, enthusiasm and talent of the children who enter the competition never fail to amaze and delight me”.
Published poet, Liz Berry, was on hand to mark the success of this year’s poetry entries, saying of overall winner Oliver Brett’s poem that it was a ‘powerful and moving’ work.
Chloe Yorke of Ashdown House School (pictured) was the overall winner in the art category with a strong portrayal of two tigers.
Meet the Peekok youthARTS Initiatives’team
Deacon Lawrence Ademola Oladiran Chairman
Oyetunji Olu Akinloye
Olawale Oguntoye
Oluwanbe Amodu
Victor Olaleye
Dayo Adekunle
Segun Noel
Pastor Ezekiel Ekundina
Special contribution from individuals
Parents of the Awardees
Mrs. Motunrayo Ajibowo, Head teacher Nickel School, Lagos
Mr. William Anthony from AOCOED International School
Mr. Tewogbade Olajide, Principal Doestdot College, Lagos
……
Gaps and needs for sponsorship
With reference to the past experiences of Peekok YouthARTS Initiatives during the projects, it was clear that there are gaps created and there are needs to bridge these gaps. There are some good talents who have overtime emerged winner under this competition in three consecutive times but their parents cannot afford to foot the bills of these talents to have their works exhibited internationally like their colleagues.
On these note, we at PYI want the private and public sector to partner with these wonderful initiative and let us join hands together in building these future leaders.
