Rabat, June 9, 2023
Bayt Mal Al Quds Agency held on Friday June 9, 2023 at the International book and Publishing fair, the prize-awarding ceremony to the winners of the 4th “Colors of Al Quds” contest for the 2022-2023 academic year, in the presence of minister of education and sports of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mr. Chakib Benmoussa, Palestinian ambassador in Morocco, Mr. Jamal Choubaki and a host of diplomatic, cultural and social figures.
In a speech on this occasion, Mr. Chakib Benmoussa, underlined the importance of this contest, held annually in partnership with his department and its role in deepening the values of tolerance and co-existence and raising awareness on the place of Al Quds Asharif among pupils who brightly created drawings in colors that underscore the religious holiness of this city and stress the importance of preserving the city’s religious identity and civilization, as a symbol of co-existence and peace.
He also stated that the contest is part of the 2015-2030 strategic vision for the reform of education and scientific research reform and represents an excellent opportunity to pupils to unleash their creativity and express their attachment to Al Quds Asharif, through their calligraphy, drawings and colors, as well as their capacity to use drawing to illustrate the religious and civilizational features of this unique city.
The minister further surveyed the efforts made by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, chairman of Al Quds Committee, to preserve the historical and civilizational memory of this holy city as well as various forms of support to improve the living conditions of Al Quds populations.
On his part, ambassador Choubaki underscored the continuous support extended by Morocco’s leadership and people to the Palestinian cause and to Al Quds, noting that this support has helped enshrine the shared legacy between Morocco and Palestine and that Moroccans and Palestinians are partners in Al Quds thanks to the effective and long-standing Moroccan presence, for hundreds of years, in Palestine and in the holy city. This common history has created a shared culture that has consolidated the Palestinian citizens’ resistance on their land, he added.
Then, the acting director of Bayt Mal Al Quds Asharif, Mr. Mohamed Salem Echarkaoui, announced the 7 winners (Six girls and one boy) of the contest held under the theme “Al Quds, a city for all religions) in partnership with the regional academy of education and training for the region of Tangier), as the Agency is marking its silver jubilee.
Mr. Mohamed Salem Echarkaoui also pointed out that the total number of submissions in the four editions has exceeded 900 ones, from which 350 paintings were selected to participate in the contest, noting that the contest seeks to promote the young generation’s awareness of the honorable history of the attachment of Moroccans to Al Quds and of the importance of the efforts made by the Kingdom of Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, chairman of Al Quds Committee, to protect the city, preserve its sanctity and spread its values and ideals as a center of peace and co-existence between followers of the three celestial religions.
The jury, chaired by the president of the Moroccan union of plastic artists Mr. Mohamed Mansouri Idriss, decided to award the first prize to Nada Choucha, from AjialZilys school, while the second prize went ex-aequoto two female pupils: AminaZaghtour from Abu Bakr Assadiq school and Hadiatullah Rahmouni from Slimane Al Haouat schools. The third prize rewarded equally two female pupils: Doha Chahouane from Jil Attahadi private school and Israe Azejat from Al Houma Madariss School. The jury also decided to award two encouragement prizes to Ihsane Alami Laaroussi from the Dawlya Madariss private schools and Mosaab Hayati from Jil Attahadi private school.
During the prize-awarding ceremony, Bayt Mal Al Quds Agency and the regional education and training academy for the region of Fes-Meknes signed a partnership convention for the organization of the contest Fifth edition.
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