Cultural Activities in Syria a Message of Peace and Love From Cradle of Civilization to the World

Culture activities in Syria aim to send a message of peace and love from Syria, the cradle of culture and civilization, to the entire world and to stress the intellectual and artistic steadfastness of the Syrians, Deputy Minister of Culture Tawfik Al-Imam told the Syriatimes e-newspaper on the sidelines of the “Childhood and Innovation” festivity held last Thursday at Dar-Al-Assad for Culture in Lattakia province.

The cultural event, held by the Ministry of Culture’s Child Culture Directorate, aimed to honor the winner children from Lattakia who had participated in the ministry’s annual artistic and cultural competitions. Participants in the competitions were children aged 5-17 years representing all the Syrian provinces.

Among honored winners from Lattakia province were children of martyrs as well as some children with special needs.

Despite all the hard circumstances caused by the terrorist war imposed on Syria, the takfiri terrorists couldn’t extinguish the candle of culture in the country, said Mr. al-Imam.

 “The Syrian children are talented, skillful and creative and they are able to give good examples of work and success,” he added, stressing that the ministry is keen on supporting children’s cultural, artistic, and innovative sides and on crystallizing their talents.

The annual competitions covered the art of painting and calligraphy in addition to the story, poetry and essay writing, as well as competitions entitle “I draw my dream”  and “energy rationalizing”.

The deputy minister pointed out that these competitions aim at strengthening and consolidating the spirit of cooperation among all children who came from different Syrian provinces.

“We are very proud to honor these talented kids, especially the children of martyrs, who willingly scarified their lives and underestimated death to protect their homeland against takfiri terrorism” he said.

Syria to shake off the dust of terrorism

On his part, Director of Culture in Lattakia Majd Sarem told the Syriatimes e-newspaper that the culture ministry’s competitions’ main objective is to show the world that even Syria’s children, who are the hope and the future of the country, can overcome the crisis.

He stressed that this festivity sends out a strong and important message to the entire world saying that the Syrians are celebrating and sharing the Syrian Arab Army soldiers’ their great victories over foreign-backed terrorists and that Syria will rise again and shake off the dust of terrorism.

“Art and culture are also means for the Syrians to challenge their enemies who want to undermine Syria’s history, present and future,” Mr. Sarem, said.

He hailed the unremitting efforts exerted by the culture team for building life skills in Lattakia province to encourage children to use their skills fully and effectively through holding cultural and artistic activities as to help them find a way to overcome the difficult circumstances and contribute to foiling the hostile schemes.

Syriatimes also interviewed a number of winners to speak about their works and impressions.

Jaafar Abdullah, a child from Lattakia who won the first position in drawing, expressed pride in the success he has achieved.

Jaafar said “I chose Damascus castle to paint because it is one of the most magnificent historical places in the world plus being the symbol of Syria’s steadfastness”.

Another girl winner called Shahd Haddad said “It was my honor to represent my country at the international competition of the world children’s paintings held in Japan in 2017, and was very great to win the first prize”.

She pointed out that her painting depicted the Syrian heritage which is a part of humanity’s heritage .

Relating the culture ministry’s competitions, Shahd said she also won a prize for her painting on rationalizing the use of energy and for her “I drew my dream” work in which she painted a girl trying to reach the moon carrying the Syrian national flag.

Both Shahd and Jaafar stressed that, as Syrian children, they are determined to accomplish the goals they have set in their heart and mind spurred by their sense of responsibility in serving their homeland. They highly appreciated efforts exerted by the culture directorate in Lattakia province to support them and enhance their skills and capabilities.

It is worthy to mention that on the sideline of the culture event, an interactive art exhibition was held by the culture team for building life skills to showcase the winner children’s works.

Day after day, thesteadfast Syrians prove to the entire world that they are peace and life-loving people and that the terrorist war imposed on their country couldn’t break their will or weaken their determination to challenge the war circumstances and keep the cultural, social and economic life in the country going on.

Interviewed By Rawaa Ghanam