Madrid, June 23 - The award ceremony for Harambee’s “Communicating Africa” painting and singing contests for schoolchildren was held yesterday. The painting and music contests were set up by the organizing committee of Harambee in Spain for schoolchildren between 10 and 13, as part of an African solidarity project aimed at providing education and social help in many African countries.

The results of the various contests were:

Year 6, Primary pupils 1st
Prize: Isabel Garcia Trigo, Seville
2nd Prize: Candela Jimenez Pumar, Seville

Years 7-9, Secondary Pupils
1st Prize: Ana Blanco Bande, Corunna
2nd Prize: Favila Gonzalez Gomez, Oviedo

Choral Singing: Choir of Montealto School, Madrid

Juan Luis Rodriguez Fraile, president of Harambee in Spain, said that the contests, under the slogan Communicating Africa, “are an effective way of raising awareness not only of the needs but also the values of the continent of Africa. It’s all about Africans themselves leading their own development.” He was delighted that the winners came from very different places. Over the past year Harambee project coordinators have raised funds through events in schools and social centres, aiming to arouse interest and broaden their sphere of activity.

Prizes were given by Juan Luis Rodriguez Fraile; Francisco Prados de la Plaza, president of the jury for the painting prizes; Milagros Ariza, president of the jury for the singing prizes; and Dr Celine Tendobi, medical director of Monkole Hospital, Kinshasa, Congo, one of the projects financed by Harambee.

Dr Tendobi’s speech outlined the needs of her country and the help that can be given once people take a bit of interest. Her hospital, she said, keeps going thanks to help from Europe. She described their plans to increase the number of beds and build dispensaries in rural districts, which will save many lives. Doctors’ salaries are less than 50 euros per month, there is no drinking-water, rivers are sometimes far from the villages, ignorance is widespread and many children are dying because even elementary hygiene is unknown. She encouraged everyone to cooperate with Harambee and spread the truth about the talent that exists in Africa, but that needs help to achieve anything worthwhile.

The prize-giving ceremony ended with a performance by OBIBASE, a fantastic blend of African and Spanish music.