(Photo: UNICEF)

With the theme “Saving the Earth”, the contest , open to children between 10 and 15 years old throughout Vietnam, is an opportunity for them to draw connections between natural disasters and climate change and their daily lives. They will also learn about how human activity impacts climate change  and  discover life-saving skills they can use when a natural disaster occurs.

Rana Flowers, UNICEF Chief Representative in Vietnam, said: “Children are more affected and that we need to know what that impacts are. It’s absolutely exciting and honored to be in Vietnam to see we are launching this contest to tap into the creativity of the children here and to ensure that we are doing what the convention on the rights of the child requires. We are listening to children and to their ideas. We are ensuring that they are part of finding the solutions. I said over the last 2 years this contest has been conducted in a number of countries. In all cases we’ve found enormous commitments from the children and honestly amazing ideas and superheroes.”

The event will run through August 28. Winners will have  the opportunity  to work with a group of experts to bring their superheroes to life in either comics or cartoons. An award ceremony will be held on October 13 which is observed as the International Day for Disaster Reduction.

The contest is jointly organized by UNICEF, the Vietnam Disaster Management Authority, and the National Young Pioneer Council.