SYMA Goldwinner Child Fest 2011 - Drawing Competition

This time, it has been a different experience for the Organisers.  SYMA an Organisation of more than 3 decades of social service has been conducting competitions for the school children titled “Child Fest” for close to two decades now.

The concept was to create a congenial atmosphere promoting competitive spirit and enthusing the school children to participate in extra curricular activities also, bringing out the best out of their natural talents.   Over the years it has taken great shape and is now a very popular event amongst the schools in City. Most of the School Annual publications make a mention of their wards winning prize in our SYMA Child Fest.

For years the venue has been NK Thirumalachariyar Girls High School and Child Fest has been a two day affair for  more than a decade now.  This year for administrative convenience, the  Managing Committee of SYMA deemed it fit to hold it on two different dates and at two different venues.

The drawing competitions were held on Sunday 30^th Jan 2011 at The Hindu Higher Secondary School,

149 Big Street

, Triplicane, Chennai 600005. With the experience gained in the past, the competition was in 6 groups for students ranging from Lkg to 12^th standard held at four different time – staggered to ensure that there were no two activities at any given time.  

THE VENUE :

Students cannot dream of a better venue for drawing inspiration. The bricks and saffron coloured walls with Indo-sarsenic architecture has inspired many and created many worthy students.  Hindu High School founded as Dravida Patasala for tamil boys which later amalgamated with The Hindu Andhra Balura Patasala for telegu boys that were in existence in 1852. In 1860 they were amalgamated as The Triplicane Andhra Dravida Balura Patasala and in 1898 renamed “ The Hindu High School”.  It has been a great learning  centre producing eminent personalities and transforming the lives of tens of thousands of people into responsible citizens for the cause of nature building.  

On Sunday, most roads lead to Big Street and there was buzz of activity in and around Pycrofts road and Bells Road (Bharathiyar Salai and Jagjivanram salai, respectively) leading to Hindu High Schools.  Crowds turned up in large number. 

a section of the crowd

A total list of 1500 participants would please any Organisation though this is low by SYMA’s tall standards.  The shift in venue and the dates being closer to the Public examinations probably caused to the reduced numbers.  The numbers did not dampen the enthusiasm nor the quality.  In fact the Judges found it extremely difficult to restrict the prize winners and in certain categories, picked up more than the specified numbers for the special prizes.  The long list of winners in different categories are available in our website : www.syma.in and some of the winning entries can be seen at : http://picasaweb.google.com/SYMATRIPLICANE/DrawingCompetition#

This drawing caught the eyes of all.  Drawn by a 8^th standard student – Selvi Tanuja – this represented a tiger, nay not a simple drawing of tiger but the fierce animal as seen inside a human eye.  Good thinking and great execution…

The Programme was inaugurated in the morning by Mr Thirumalai, present Head Master of Hindu High School.  Appreciating the efforts of SYMA, he gave an inspiring speech to the students impressing upon them the need to study well, and do something back to the society when they grow.  The programme started with traditional invocation to Lord and by lighting of ‘kuthuvilakku’ by Shri Thirumalai and TA Sampathkumar, President of SYMA.

Volunteers of Soundarya Rathinamala, a group of others who were brought by Mrs Uthra Sarang, SYMA volunteers and others ensured that everything was according to the plans drawn up earlier.  The event was well coordinated by our Secretary R. Sanjeevi, whose team deserves special mention.  

Nestle India was at the venue providing their brand of snacks to students and parents as well.  

All the participating children were given prize and a Certificate commending their participation.  In the end, the children and parents left with happiness writ large in their faces and We at SYMA were also happy in having conducted an event in a nice manner.

The venue now shifts to “Mylapore Fine Arts Academy” – where Singing, Quiz, Instrument Fusion, Dance and Fancy Dress would unfold on 6^th Feb 2011.  The Fancy Dress competition this year is restricted for children of Lkg, Ukg and I standard only and is open to all.  For the rest of the competitions, the student would represent their school and hence the completed entry form duly certified by the respective school is compulsory.  

SYMA thanks you all

Regards

S. Sampathkumar

Secretary.