Bahrain : 2018
Under the patronage of the Embassy of India, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Indian Community Relief Fund (“ICRF”) organized this year’s art carnival titled ‘Spectra 2018’. The art carnival aimed at encouraging and honoring artistic skills among the youth is the largest art competition for students in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Faber Castell ‘Faber Castell Spectra 2018’ held yesterday, Friday, 14th December 2018 at The Bahrain International Exhibition Centre. This is the tenth annual art carnival by ICRF, the first one was held in the year 2009 with around 700 participants. This year a total of about 4200 children from various schools in Bahrain participated in the competition after being selected in the preliminary rounds organized in their respective schools. This annual event aims at unearthing artistic talent among the youth and creating a future generation who would be catalysts for social change.
1.SPECTRA 2018 ART COMPETITION INAUGURATION: 8:30 AM
Chief Guest: MR. P.K.CHAUDHARY (Second Secretary, the Embassy of Bahrain to the Kingdom of Bahrain)
Guest of Honour: MR. SANJAY BHAN (General Manager, Faber Castle)
2.INDIAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL & PRIZE DISTRIBUTION: 5:30 PM ONWARDS
CHIEF GUEST: HE. MR.ALOK KUMAR SINHA (The Ambassador of India to The Kingdom of Bahrain)
GUEST OF HONOR: MRS. MAMTA SINHA
Master of ceremonies: Dr. Nidhi.S.Menon, Dr. Ringu Jose, Mr. Karthik Nair,
Participants were divided into four age groups – five to eight years, eight to eleven years and eleven to fourteen years and fourteen to eighteen years. This year we also had an adult category competition for participants above 18 yrs. All materials for the event were sponsored by Faber Castell who have been our title sponsor from the start of Spectra in 2009,
The event began at 7.30 am and was concluded by 5.00 pm. The results were announced on the same day in a finale function that started at 5.00pm just after the Drawing Competition at Bahrain International Exhibition Centre.
This year we had participation from around 30 schools including The Indian School, The Asian School, The New Indian School, Sacred Heart School, New Millennium School, New Horizon School, Al Noor International School, Ibn Al Haytham School, AMA International School, Quality Education School, Zainab Govt School, New Generation School, Philippine School, Al Naseem International School, Arabian Pearl Gulf School, Bahrain Indian School, Hawar International School, Al Mahd Day Boarding School, Shaikha Hessa girls School, Al Rawabi School, New Zinj Kindergarten, Wisam International School and others. We also had students of “Sneha and Ria” participate at the event.
The winning entries and other outstanding creations by the children will figure in the Wall Calendars and Desk-Top Calendars designed for the year 2019. These Calendars will be launched this month at the Finale function by H.E. Mr. Alok Kumar Sinha, Ambassador of India to Bahrain a large number of each of these calendars will be made available to educational institutions, clubs, associations, and businesses.
Besides the ART Carnival, this year ICRF also conducted a “Tribute to Bahrain – Indian Heritage Carnival” yesterday at the venue, to showcase the rich Indian culture and cuisine to the participants and the general public.
A varied program highlighting the rich traditional dances, costumes and jewellery from the 29 States of Incredible India performed at the venue for the general public from 5 pm – 8 pm. A specially choreographed 15 minutes dance segment performed by Indian students to pay “Tribute to Bahrain” and depict the close ties between the Kingdom of Bahrain and India, since the time of the Dilmun Civilization.
The main expense of ICRF is the Family Welfare Fund which provides financial support to the families of those Indian workers who are earning less than BD 100/- per month and who tragically lose their lives in the Kingdom. After verification of documents, ICRF sends Rs. 100,000/- (approximately BD 530/- at current exchange rates) to the next of kin of the deceased worker. This support is a financial lifeline for the extremely poor and needy families who in many cases have lost their sole breadwinner.
Since inception in 2009, in the past ten years, the ICRF Family Welfare Fund has supported over 500 impoverished families in India, disbursing approximately Rupees 5 Crores (over BD 300,000), directly into the bank accounts of the legal heirs of the deceased workers. From 2015 till 2017 we supported 144 Families and 2018 38 Families so far.
For the smooth running of this mega event, an active Organizing committee has been formed headed by Mrs. Rosaline Roy Charlie as General Convener, Mr. Aneesh as Joint Convener of the event. Ms. Nisha Rangarajan was the Convener Indian Heritage Carnival. Sponsorship committee was headed by Mr. Bala Subramanian, Mr. Nithin Jacob headed Registration, Mr. Sridhar headed judging, Mr.Sunil Kumar headed arrangement of painting materials, Mr.Murali Krishnan headed Trophies and Awards Committee, Mr.Sudheer Thirunilath for Logistics, Mr.Nasser for Volunteers, Mr.Zubair for Food, Mr. John Philip for Medical, Mr.Pankaj Nallur for Media & Publicity. The team was guided by ICRF Chairman Mr. Aruldas, Vice Chairman DR Babu Ramachandran and General Secretary Mrs. Mehru Vasuvala, around 200 Volunteers and 100 School Coordinators facilitated the Event.
ICRF Chairman Mr.Aruldas & General Secretary Mrs. Mehru Vesuvala extended sincere Thanks to all Students, Teachers, All Schools, All Volunteers, The Exhibition Centre Authorities, Sound & Stage providers, All Sponsors , and all well-wishers for their wholehearted support for SPECTRA 2018.
The Calendar will be released on 29th Dec 2018, further details will be given later.
ICRF FABER CASTELL 2018 Results available at icrfbahrain.com
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