Didim Belediye is staging a ‘Stop Smoking’ painting competition to coincide with World Smoke Free Day on Feb 9.

The council, in a press statement, said: “Smoking is a major public health problem in the world and in our country where there is a high percentage of nicotine addicts.

“This year on 9th February it is World Smoking Cessation Day or ” Stop Smoking Day” and to lend their support to the campaign, the Municipality of Didim are holding a competition for our children and young people to encourage them not to start this bad habit.

“The competition is a painting contest on the subject of “Stop Smoking” open to all art students:-

• First and second-level students the contest is a 35cm x 50cm picture on paper or cardboard
• All types of paintings and paint materials are acceptable (ie watercolour, pastels, crayon, oil paint etc)
• The subject of the competition is that smoking is a bad influence on children and can hurt children when adults partake – using visual effects where possible to create the effect of encouraging adults it is time to stop smoking around children and young people
• The art teacher or other teachers democratically will decide which students can participate and will choose the best 2 to be put forward
• Each picture should show on the lower right hand corner, the competitor’s first name, last name, age, school, class number, school and home addresses, province, telephone numbers, e-mail address and name of the art teacher. Student pictures with this information missing will not be considered
• Schools should send their pictures to the District Education Department for them to be considered by the Committee by Thursday, 5th February 5 whereupon the top three students will be selected
• Participating pictures will not be returned. All contest pictures will be displayed by the municipality of Didim.

Reward:
1. First Place: The contest winner’s picture will be hung on the walls of Didim Town Hall and both the student and art teacher will be presented with a surprise gift by the President of Didim Municipality;
2. Second Place: A prize of professional art material including a picture bag and surprise gift;
3. Third Place: A prize of professional art material including a picture bag and surprise gift.