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Winners of the 2024 Children’s Mangrove Art Contest Revealed

We are thrilled to announce the winners of the 2024 Children’s Mangrove Art Contest, an annual celebration that blends creativity with education, inspiring a deep appreciation for mangrove forests among young people.

Now in its 24th year, the contest continues to grow, with this year marking a new milestone—with 350 entries from students aged 7 to 16 across 34 countries. These young artists were challenged to create vibrant works that highlight the critical role mangroves play in protecting coastal ecosystems and supporting communities.

“Choosing the winners was challenging, as we received remarkable artwork from around the world. We are truly amazed by the talent of these young artists and feel honored to showcase their work, which we hope will inspire many to protect mangroves,” said Monica Gutierrez-Quarto, coordinator of the art contest.

MAP’s Children’s Mangrove Art Contest remains a cornerstone in fostering environmental stewardship among the next generation. Each year, more youth, families, schools, and community groups participate, making it a truly global event. By engaging young minds, we hope to spark a lifelong connection to the natural world.

This collection is the result of a thoughtful process that begins by inviting children worldwide to participate in the contest by answering two key questions through their art:

  1. Why are mangroves important for local communities?
  2. What are the threats facing mangroves today?

After a period of learning, facilitated by their teachers or through independent study, these young participants expressed their reflections through art. The contest serves as a platform for budding artists to explore the beauty and biodiversity of mangrove forests, fostering an awareness of the urgent need for conservation. We are proud to present this heartfelt collection, which showcases the voices of children united in their creative expression.

We invite you to explore this year’s winning artworks which will be featured in our 2025 Children’s Mangrove Art Calendar, starting with our front cover winner, Ooi Qian Ni (Age 10, Malaysia, Nature Classroom), and featuring incredible pieces from 12 other young artists:

  1. Sahla Naila (Age 16, Indonesia, MAN IC Pasuruan)
  2. Nguyen Hoang Thien Kim (Age 12, Vietnam, Western Australian International School System)
  3. Jedidiah Dona-Dei Ofuru (Age 10, Nigeria, RA International School)
  4. Grace D Bama (Age 13, Myanmar, IIP)
  5. Jinghan Zhao (Age 10, China, International Student Art)
  6. Seth Shreyan (Age 10, South Africa, Crawford College Prep)
  7. Andre Sian (Age 13, Brazil, School Americano)
  8. Nazli Nagavi (Age 14, Iran, School Madani)
  9. Grace Ding (Age 15, Canada, Fraser Heights Secondary)
  10. Nahin (Age 10, Bangladesh, Cherry Blossoms International School)
  11. Chayathip Chantaplaboon (Age 12, Thailand, IWS Online School)
  12. Samyuktha Injeti (Age 10, USA, Art World School)

Awarded Young Artists

In addition to these 13 awarded pieces, we are pleased to showcase over 80 outstanding artworks in our 2024 Virtual Art Gallery. These winning pieces will also be featured in our 2025 Children’s Mangrove Art Calendar, capturing the creativity and insights of these talented young artists. As a thank you for supporting our conservation efforts, donors contributing $100 or more will receive a complimentary copy of this beautiful calendar. 

This year, we are honored to have an outstanding jury who play a crucial role in selecting the artwork: Francesca Del Piano, Charley Jones, Maya Greven, and Valli Sanstrom.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the gifted students, teachers, parents, and organizations who contributed to this remarkable collection. Please take a moment to explore our wonderful gallery below!

Gallery Art Selection

More information, including a preview of the calendar, check out our latest blog post! To request your calendar, simply mention it in the comments section of our donation page or contact Monica at monica@mangroveactionproject.org.