21 February 2008
HRH THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL PRESENTS PRIZES TO
YOUNG ARTISTS AT LONDON CEREMONY
Finalists of a unique national children’s art competition, organised by the Brooke charity to highlight the suffering of working equine animals overseas, received their certificates from Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall on Wednesday 20 February 2008.
Her Royal Highness, the Brooke’s President, presented the prizes to 10 children aged from 5 to 15 in a grand ceremony at the Institute for Indian Art and Culture, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan UK Centre, London.
The Brooke, which works to improve the health and welfare of working horses, donkeys and mules in developing nations, ran the "Get Arty" competition with children’s BBC TV presenter Kirsten O’Brien. Youngsters had to draw or paint their favourite equine animals and say why their four-legged friends are so special to them.
See the winners' fantastic artwork here
The winning artwork was on display at the ceremony as part of an exhibition entitled `Working Animals Worldwide - A Child’s View’. The exhibition, which ran for five days, featured a gallery of evocative photographs showing the relationship between children and their working animals in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, where equines are a lifeline for millions of poor families. There were also paintings and drawings of horses and donkeys done by children who work with equine animals in Egypt and India.
See some of the stunning photographs here
Each year the Brooke’s network of clinics and 72 mobile vet units reach over 650,000 animals in need in poor nations. Brooke vets and community workers treat illness and injury and pass on welfare knowledge to children and adults alike in entire communities.
`The competition and exhibition celebrate the fact children’s special bond with equine animals is universal,’ says Brooke CEO Mike Baker. `It also highlights the gruelling work these animals do in often appalling conditions to keep millions of children and their families from starvation.’
The competition judges included TV’s Pet Rescue presenter Wendy Turner Webster, Lauren Jarvis, editor of National Geographic Kids magazine, Mike Baker and Kirsten, who presents CBBC’s SMart programme.
`The standard of entries was so high we wished we’d had more prizes to award,’ says Kirsten.
`It was very difficult to choose the finalists – there were literally hundreds of entries, and it’s brilliant to know so many children in the UK care about the millions of hard-working horses and donkeys in poor countries.’
For photos of the event please call the Press Association picture library on 020 7963 7000.
Notes to editors:
* HRH The Duchess of Cornwall became Brooke’s President in November 2006 and has visited the Brooke’s work in Pakistan and Egypt in the company of HRH The Prince of Wales.
* The Brooke has been relieving the suffering of horses, donkeys and mules working for poor people in developing countries for nearly 75 years. Its dedicated local vets and their teams provide free care, education and training in the heart of the communities across nine countries in the Middle East and the developing world. The Brooke reaches over 650,000 working horses, donkeys and mules every year, and with research showing that an average of six people rely on any one equine animal overseas, its work has far-reaching consequences for people too.
* The ‘Get Arty’ competition has been supported by National Geographic Kids magazine http://www.ngkids.co.uk
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