12-year-old, Alma Wanjiru from Lions Primary School is representing East and Central Africa at the peace poster competition globally, after her art piece was submitted in New York for judging.

When Wanjiru joined the peace poster competition organized by Lions international club, all she hoped for was a win and to express a message of hope through her artistic work and that she did.

Wanjiru describes to Mtaa Wangu that the art piece she drew, of a dove comforting earth in a thriving state and on the other side a war scene in Ukraine was done to capture the theme of the competition ‘Lead with compassion’.

Art work by Alma Wanjiru to be presented to judges in New York.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA| MTAA WANGU

The grade seven student made her art submission on September 23, 2022, and two months later she got to know through her school that she had won the competition in District 4A (Eastern and Central Africa).

“It took me five months to come up with the prototype of the painting and three months to draw the painting. The original copy was done on a manila paper and using brush and paint, “she adds.

After winning she got an invitation to offer a speech at the United Nation on February 9^th, 2023 during the 45^th annual Lions Day with the UN.

The event’s theme was hunger, nutrition, and wellness. Here she learned that her art piece will be submitted to New York for judging and that she will be competing globally among other artists.

Wanjiru’s mum, Winnie Warikira, says that her daughter started drawing at the age of four years, when she introduced her to the art gallery at the Nakuru- Kenya National Library.

"I noticed that my daughter had an interest in art at an early age. We started coaching her from home and later on started taking her to the library gallery where she sharpened her skills,” Ms Warikira says.

Her dream is to become an astronomer and do art on the side.

Wanjirukinuthia20@gmail.com

Nakuru's Alma Wanjiru to participate in New York's global art competition

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Purity Kinuthia