Vietnamese student wins second prize at international contest

Hanoi, January 4 (VNA) - Vietnam's Pham Thi Minh Khue has come second in a children's poster-drawing contest launched by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The contest is held annually to celebrate World Food Day, which aims to raise awareness and declare people's commitment to eradicate hunger in the world. The contest was held for three age groups of five to eight years, nine to 12 years and 13 to 17 years. Three first, three second and three third prizes were awarded to the winners. Khue won in the 13-17 years category and is among nine winners who claimed the second prize. This year the contest, held with the theme of "Social Protection and Agriculture: Breaking the Cycle of Rural Poverty," received more than 2,500 entries. Every year the winning posters are displayed on the FAO World Food Day website. Khue's painting shows a tree, with each part of the tree being a social class that represents well-being. "To help this tree grow well, all parts need to be strong and support each other," Minh Khue said at the awarding ceremony held recently in Vinschool. "I was very surprised and happy to receive this award because I have never won a contest in my life. I will continue to participate in FAO's World Food Day poster contest and encourage my friends to do so, hoping to raise awareness about eradicating hunger in the future." Khue is an eighth-grade student at Vinschool. She said she researched news and information on hunger and society in mass media, books and lectures in her class. Khue received a medal of appreciation from Jongha Bae, FAO representative in Vietnam, and was congratulated by her mother, school associates and classmates. "The World Food Day Poster Contest is held annually by FAO for children across the world. Since its launch, the contest has inspired thousands of children and young people to put their creativity and talent to work and figure out ways to fight poverty and hunger in their countries," Bae said./.