A group of students have put Hong Kong on the world map by winning top awards in international drawing competitions. Ted Li Cheuk-tat, a Form One student at La Salle College, beat more than 325,000 children aged 11 to 13 from around the world to win the Grand Prize at the 17th annual Lions International Peace Poster Contest. With the theme 'Give Peace a Chance', Cheuk-tat drew a maze to symbolise the plight of our planet. A pigeon, which represents peace, comes to the rescue by knocking down the maze with its beak. 'The more contradictions and arguments among people, the more walls there will be in the maze. We need to do something, like the pigeon in the picture, to break down the walls and free the world,' said the 12-year-old, who has attended the Simply Art Creative Painting Studio for five years. It took almost five months for Cheuk-tat to come up with his final work, which won him and his parents a trip to New York in March to receive the US$2,500 cash prize and an engraved plaque. Three years ago, another Simply Art student, Cookie Lau Hei-man from Kowloon True Light Middle School, won the same competition and was interviewed by the international TV network CNN in New York. 'I read about conflicts and wars everywhere in the world on the internet. I feel very unsafe,' said Cheuk-tat, whose painting reached the final 24 last year. 'I really hope people can work together to make this world a better place to live in.' Cheuk-tat's drawing instructors Henry Lau Hoo-cheong and Lee Chui-fan were excited about the outstanding achievements of Cheuk-tat and six other Simply Art students. Vincent Chang Yiu-sing, eight, from Pegasus Philip Wong Kin Hang Christian Primary School, Crystal Chau Yuen-nam, 12, from Good Hope School, and Eunice Leung Wing-yu, 15, from Diocesan Girls' School won the postcard section in their respective age groups at the seventh annual International Peace Pals Art Competition and Exhibition in Argentina. Michelle Lau Hiu-tung, 12, from Munsang College (Kowloon City), came second in the sixth annual International Peace Poster Competition in India, while 14-year-old Karen Wong So-man from Munsang College (Hong Kong Island) was third. Mr Lau praised his students, saying they received a lot of support from their parents and schools. 'We have many kids who have the potential and creativity,' said Mr Lau, an architect-turned-painting instructor. 'The skills are there, but we need to teach them how to analyse themes and express their thoughts. We don't need painters, but we need students who know how to turn creative ideas into works of art.'
