The evaluation of the Eco Art Diaries has begun.

On November 1, 2013, the first national round of the Eco Art Diary international project, launched for the first time in Azerbaijan on the initiative of the IDEA (International Dialogue for Environmental Protection) campaign, under the auspices of UNESCO, and with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Center and Panasonic Marketing CIS (PMCIS), was completed.

Up to 5,000 students participated in the project, representing the lower (ages 6–11) and middle (ages 12–15) age groups, covering general secondary schools in Baku and Ganja.

The schoolchildren who participated in the national round of the project created drawings in special “Diaries” prepared for the competition, reflecting existing global environmental problems and the importance of environmental protection, and added texts briefly describing their ideas.

The evaluation of the “Diaries” has now started. The assessment of the Eco Art Diaries will be carried out by the project’s jury — consisting of representatives of the IDEA campaign, the Heydar Aliyev Center, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, authorized representatives of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as several leading experts and renowned art figures — based on pre-established criteria. One winner of the national competition will be announced from among the 20 participants who qualify for the final stage.

It should be noted that the aim of the “Eco Art Diary 2013” international competition is to foster and develop a love for nature among the younger generation, strengthen environmental awareness among them, and mobilize schoolchildren for environmental protection activities. The project also serves to promote an active civic stance on protecting the environment and human health.

It should also be noted that the winner of the competition’s final stage will be announced on December 1, 2013.