The Institut Français at the Embassy of France in Turkmenistan has hosted a hybrid virtual and in-person ceremony to announce the winners of the 2021 Francophonie Competition whose theme is ‘The Most Important Woman in my Life’.

Students of the Institut Français, Magtymguly Turkmen State University, Azadi National Institute of World Languages and the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan were set to compete to be named the best in three categories: drawing/painting, essay writing and singing.

The Ambassador of France delivered an opening address at the event. Teachers from the French Language Departments of the higher education institutions, where the contestants study, also welcomed the ceremony participants.

Most of the works were submitted in the drawing/painting category. Students of the Institut Français did portraits of their mothers and famous women using pencils, markers and gouache. The artworks by young artists truly impress with a wide variety of styles and the depth of creative thinking.

The jury awarded first place to Lika Hajieva. The special prize from jury member, artist Gulya Kurbanova went to Mark Konstantinov for his drawing ‘My Mother is a Queen’. The young boy’s boundless love for his mother enabled him to proclaim her Queen and he did it with such touching childlike sincerity.

Shukurgeldy Myradov, a student at School No. 2 in Ashgabat, wrote the best essay in French entitled ‘The Most Important Woman in my Life’. He read out his winning French-Turkmen essay during the ceremony.

The three top-place winners in the singing category gave the event participants a musical treat and sang songs in French. Aziza Irgasheva, who performed Amel Bent’s ‘Si On Te Demande’, won a burst of applause from the listeners.

All the winners received valuable prizes. By tradition, the ceremony culminated in a photo-taking session.

The annual creative Francophonie competition held under the International Organization of La Francophonie aims to promote the French language, multilingualism and cultural diversity, and encourage creativity in young people.

Tamara GLAZUNOVA

Photo: Yuri SHKURIN