Over 300 children participate in ICRF’s ‘Faber Castell - Spectra 2020’

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The Indian Community Relief Fund (ICRF), under the patronage of the Embassy of India, Bahrain, held this year’s art carnival titled ‘Faber Castell - Spectra 2020’ virtually. The event was a grand success, as the pandemic could not stop the enthusiasm of the organisers, volunteers, school coordinators and participants in conducting SPECTRA 2020.

The event was inaugurated by lighting the lamp by Ravi Shanker Shukla, Second Secretary at the Embassy of India, in the presence of ICRF Chairman Aruldas Thomas, General Secretary John Philip, Vice-Chairman Dr Babu Ramachandran, Advisor Bhagwan Asarpota, Treasurer Mani Lakshmanamoorthy, Joint Secretary Pankaj Nallur, Spectra Convener Rosaline Roy, Spectra Joint Convener Aneesh Sreedharan, Nithin Jacob, Sridhar, Nisha Rangarajan, Muralikrishnan, Suresh Babu, Sudheer Thirunilath, Sunil Kumar, Pavithran Neeleswaram, Subair Kannur, KT Salim, Nasser Manjeri, Clifford Correa, Chemban Jalal and Prime Sponsor Faber Castell Country Head Mr Sanjay Bhan.

Around 300 children from various schools in Bahrain partook in the competition after being selected by their respective schools.    Participants were divided into four age groups - five to eight years, eight to eleven years, 11 to 13 years and fourteen to eighteen years. Besides, 18 years and above joined the competition in the adult category.

The results will be announced and the winners will be honoured during the 2021 Calendar release function to be held on 2 January 2021. The winning entries and other outstanding creations by the children will figure in the Wall Calendars and Desk-Top Calendars designed for the year 2021. A large number of each of these calendars will be made available to educational institutions, clubs, associations and businesses.

The art carnival aims at encouraging and honouring artistic skills among the youth. It is the largest art competition for students in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This is the 12th annual art carnival by ICRF, the first one was held in the year 2009. Faber Castell is the prime sponsor of the event that has provided all the artwork materials.

Participating students were allowed to keep the materials for them after the competition. Other valuable sponsors include Al Namal Group; LuLu Group, Al Noor International School; Mohammed Ahmed Company; BKG Holding; VINS Technology; State Bank of India; Al Hilal Hospital; LIC International; Mohammed Jalal and Sons; CA Chapter Bahrain; Bahrain Financing Company; P Haridas and Sons; Amad Group; Palace Electronics; Indian Delights Restaurant; Shifa Al Jazeera Hospital; J A Zayani and Sons and many other individual donors. 

Net proceeds from the competition will go towards a Family Welfare Fund to provide relief to support the families of deceased Indian labourers drawing wages below BD100 per month.