Two Children Represented Indonesia in Japan by Winning 9th Kao International Environment Painting Contest for Children

• Two works of Indonesian Children are chosen from 12.563 painting in The 9th Kao International Environment Painting Contest for Children

• Kao Indonesia continues to hold the commitment of social responsibility for enriching the lives of people through education program Remaja Kao (Kreatif, Aktif, Optimis).

Jakarta, February 23th 2019 – Two Indonesian Children, Sherly Vermont Kwerni and Farhan Wibisono won The 9th Kao International Environment Painting Contest for Children from 12.563 paintings and 44 countries. In the same occasion, Kao Indonesia introduces Program Remaja Kao in collaboration with Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa (YCAB).

“We can say, this year is one of the best years in conducting Kao International Environment Painting Contest. We received 4.379 paintings from all over Indonesia. It is increased 18,2%. Both quality and quantity, this activity is evolving. Two Indonesian Children, Sherly and Farhan represented Indonesia in Japan. This achievement is good for Kao Indonesia. They represent how high the enthusiasm of Indonesian children for the Earth sustainability that can be manifested in daily activities.” said Johny Lay, Senior Manager Corporate Communications and Head Committee of Painting Contest Kao Indonesia.

This Kao International Environment Painting Contest for Children is a part of commitment Kao for creating a healthy and clean environment. Theme of this contest is “Eco Together”. The participants are asked to express every way or method that can be manifested in daily activities for taking care of environment through the works they paint. They are allowed to use any material in their works.

Through this contest, children are asked to be agent of change who can encourage their friends, family and people around them through the ideas of creating a healthy and clean environment.

Farhan, who is still 14 years old from Sidoarjo, paints the activity of farming in his village. He took inspiration from the surrounding circumstances and various situations that occurred in Indonesia.

“Indonesia has recently experienced a natural disaster caused by the impact of deforested land. I want Indonesia to be green again and be recognized as an agrarian country. There are some step in the painting, first step is to cultivate the soil and plant tree seedlings properly and in the second step shows that the community is happy and more diligent in caring for the plants. The third and fourth steps are the final steps where people are happy because the tree has grown well. Then they celebrate it with Reog to entertain the community, increase enthusiasm, and express gratitude to God, "said Farhan, who attends SMP Al-Islam Krian, Sidoarjo.

While Sherly paints her dreams about the future, a green environment. According to her, everyone must start to participate in tackling global warming. One of the ways is to plant trees, put the rubbish in the right place, and turn unraveled waste into something useful.

"We can start campaigning for the use of renewable energy, alternative technologies, and environmental awareness. Everything we do is for a better, greener, cooler and more comfortable future for all living things on Earth," said Sherly, student of SMP Marsudirini Bekasi.

Indonesia also won one winner for Eco Friend Prize category through the painting titled “Spread the Message of Environment Conservation through Wayang” works of Viola Arielle Suliandy. In addition, Indonesia bought up all awards in the Group Prize category. The winners of the Group Prize include:

1. MTs N 1 Bangil Pasuruan with 669 works

2. SD Alfurqan Jember with 635 works

3. Mts Wahid Hasyim Bangil with 524 works

4. SMPN 1 Citeureup with 492 works

5. SMPN 2 Bangil Pasuruan with 487 works

The announcement has been released on 30 November 2018. The winner of “Planet Earth Grand Prix” category and “Kao Prize” category from all over the world are invited to Tokyo, Japan to participate in the awarding event. The winning paintings from all individual categories are displayed at Kao booth in Eco-Pro Exhibition event at Tokyo Big Sight, Japan on December 8th, 2018.

In the same occasion, Kao Indonesia announced the renewal collaboration program with Yayasan Cinta Anak Bangsa (YCAB) named Remaja KAO. This program is an elaboration of Anak KAO program which has been held in the past two years. The Anak KAO Program, which targets 9-12 years old children, has now been elaborated to 13-15 years old teenager named Remaja KAO Program.

Through Remaja Kao program, students gain more comprehensive knowledge on how to improve self-esteem which can be started by maintaining personal hygiene and the environment. The students were also involved in sharing session with members of Kao Indonesia. In this program, Remaja KAO are also taught to be more creative in finding ways to maintain environmental hygiene, actively take a role in daily activity that is friendly to environment, and be optimists to look to the future . This program successfully reached more than 2,500 Junior High School students in 25 schools in Cikarang, Karawang and Jakarta.

"This program is designed to encourage young people to focus on the positive things they have rather than the negatives. In the end, we hope they are proud of themselves and confident to provide the best in their lives," said Johny Lay.