Doha, July 26 (QNA) - The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) has announced the launch of an environmental awareness competition for children to write the best illustrated short story on protecting the ozone layer.

Organized in collaboration with Qatar Reads, an initiative under Qatar National Library, the competition is open to children aged 10 to 14 years.

In a statement issued Sunday, the MECC said that the competition reflects the State of Qatar's strong commitment to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, in addition to aligning with this year's World Ozone Day theme "Global Action for a Cooler Planet."

The competition aims to raise environmental awareness among younger generations and encourage children to highlight the importance of climate protection and positive environmental behaviors by combining storytelling with creative illustration.

The Ministry outlined the competition's requirements, stating that entries may be submitted individually or by teams of up to three children, adding that each submission must be:

• An illustrated short story consisting of 4 to 8 pages.
• Written entirely in Arabic.
• An original work created by the participating children.
• Produced without the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
• A story that has not previously been submitted to or won any other competition.
• Accompanied by illustrations or explanatory images.

The MECC also specified several key themes that the stories should address, including:

• The role of the Montreal Protocol in protecting the ozone layer.
• The importance of the ozone layer in safeguarding Earth.
• The role of individuals and communities in protecting the environment.
• Practical solutions and positive behaviors that support sustainable habits in daily life.
• Children may create illustrations either by hand or using graphic design software.

The Ministry pointed out that all submitted stories will be carefully reviewed and evaluated by a specialized judging panel based on specific artistic and technical criteria, including:

• Creativity and originality.
• Relevance to the topic of ozone protection and environmental conservation.
• Clarity of the message and its educational impact.
• Quality of the storytelling and language.
• Quality of the illustrations and visual design.
• Compliance with the competition's rules and general guidelines.

The MECC has allocated cash prizes for the top three winners:

• 1st Place: QAR 4,000, as well as printing and publishing the winning story.
• 2nd Place: QAR 3,000.
• 3rd Place: QAR 2,000.

The Ministry underscored that all of those who submit their works will receive certificates of participation, while winners will also receive certificates of recognition.

It added that winners and outstanding participants will be honored during an official ceremony held in conjunction with the marking of the World Ozone Day on September 16.

Regarding applications, the MECC invited those interested in taking part to make sure to include their name, age, and contact details (phone number and email address), along with their submissions.

The Ministry set the deadline for submissions on September 1, adding that entries should be sent directly to the Ministry via the dedicated email address: CHWD@mecc.gov.qa. (QNA)