Heart Art Competition 2008 Prize Giving Ceremony

The culmination of many months work by the competition organizer of the Heart Art Competition finally came to a head with the Prize Giving Ceremony at Thapong Visual Arts Center on Monday 10th November 2008. The Heart Art Competition which has become an annual event was initiated by Prof. Kiran Bhagat of the Cardiac Clinic in 2006.  The event is aimed at bringing awareness to young people and educating the public especially the school children at an early age on the importance of healthy lifestyles which include eating habits, exercise, and avoidance of tobacco to reduce incidence of heart disease which is the number one killer across the globe.  The guest of honour at the ceremony, Mr. S Ramahobo, the Director of Primary Education in the Ministry of Education reiterated the need to educate the need to educate the public at an early age in order to reduce the incidence of heart disease amongst Batswana.  The principal ethos of the Art Competition was to raise awareness amongst the younger population on the principles of appropriate lifestyle, it has now been recognized in our country that heart disease is the number one cause of death worldwide, he said.  He added that to stem the epidemic there was need to educate the public and the younger generation in terms of healthy eating, exercise, avoidance of tobacco and as well as early screening.  Ramahobo also revealed that this year the competition has expanded to outreach areas and took on board rural schools which are often left out in competitions and other educational campaigns, whilst involving normal school-going children as well as those with disabilities such as deaf and blind.   The runner ups in this year's Heart Art Competition received certificates and a prize.  They are in the able-bodied category ages 6-9 yrs, from Pioneer Academy Ghanzi, Jan O osthuizen, In the able-bodied 10-13 yrs from Letlhabile Primary School, Malebogo Frank.  In the special needs category ages 6-9 yrs from Mokgosi Special Unit Ramotswa, Onkarabile Kereng.  In the special needs category ages 10-13 yrs from Ramotswa Centre for the Deaf, Phemelo Mmopelwa.   The winners of this year's competition received two prizes, one for the individual and one for their respective school.     In the special needs category ages 6-9 yrs, Tuelo Mmokele of Ramotswa centre for Deaf, Special needs category ages 10-13 yrs Maureen Mathope from Mokgosi special unit Ramotswa.  In the able-bodied category ages 6-9 yrs Larone Mokwena of St. Conrad's Mission School Ramotswa and finally in the able-bodied category 10-13 yrs Gantsi- Ntsi Kgologa from Forest Hill English Medium, Kanye. The Sponsors of this year's competition are Spar Group, Thapong Visual Arts, Boeringher Ingelheim, Ellies Botswana, Cardiac Clinic, Lets play SA, Tan Tona Lodge Monitor, Air Botswana and Barloworld.   Next Years Competition As the Director of primary education, conveyed his deepest appreciation, full support and ongoing endorsement of the Heart Art competition which hopefully will see its continuing expansion across the country and perhaps to bigger age groups in 2009 and the years to come.  The mission of the Heart Foundation of Botswana to engage, empower, educate and enable Batswana is certainly having its ripple effects being noticed in all spheres, sectors and strata of the nation. Thanks thanks to all the sponsors who contributed to competition and said that they hoped to see them here again next year as well as many more. Fundraising will begin in January 2009 and all interested parties are welcome to contact Lindsey Jones on 3710300 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it should they wish to contribute.