Kao Malaysia proudly hosted the Awards Ceremony for the 16th Kao International Environment Painting Contest for Children. The contest recognises young talents who express their hopes for environmental sustainability and a more sustainable future through artistic paintings.
The ceremony was also attended by Nor Hapipah Md Shah, Senior Assistant Director, and Wan Huzaini Wan Husain, the Assistant Director at the Ministry of Education Malaysia, as guests of honour. Their presence aimed to celebrate the achievements of participating students and to acknowledge the strong support from schools across the nation.
A group photography session was also held during the event, bringing together representatives from Kao Malaysia and the Ministry of Education Malaysia, award recipients, teachers, and invited guests as a symbol of appreciation and a shared memory of the occasion.
Launched globally in 2010, the Kao International Environment Painting Contest for Children encourages children around the world to express their thoughts on the global environment and the future of our planet through creative artwork.
The 16th edition of the contest recorded a total of 25,159 entries from 31 countries and regions, marking the highest number of submissions since its inception. Malaysia emerged as the country with the highest number of entries, contributing 10,690 artworks, representing 42% of the global total.
Of the total entries from Malaysia: 95% were submitted by students from national schools; 5% came from art schools and individual participants.
This impressive participation reflects a 135% increase compared to the previous year, highlighting the growing awareness and interest among Malaysian students in environmental sustainability.
Kao Malaysia extends its deepest appreciation to the Ministry of Education Malaysia and teachers nationwide for their continuous support in promoting the contest and encouraging student participation.
Beyond fostering creativity, participation in the contest also awards merit points to students, supporting their educational development while encouraging active involvement in environmental awareness initiatives.
Turning Children’s Creativity into Environmental Action: This competition also delivers a meaningful positive impact on the environment. For the second consecutive year, Kao has implemented a donation initiative, where 50 Japanese yen is contributed for every artwork submitted, in support of environmental conservation efforts.
For the 16th edition, this initiative successfully raised a total of 1.258 million Japanese yen, which will be donated to several international environmental organisations, including: World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF); OISCA International Green Forest Conservation; and PIRIKA Marine
Through this initiative, the environmental creativity and awareness demonstrated by children are translated into tangible contributions toward protecting wildlife, conserving forests, and reducing marine pollution.
Kao Malaysia expresses its appreciation for the strong collaboration with the Ministry of Education Malaysia in shaping a younger generation that is environmentally conscious and responsible.
Kao Malaysia hopes this partnership will continue in the future, providing more opportunities for students nationwide to showcase their talents while fostering a sense of environmental responsibility through art and creativity.
By empowering young minds with environmental awareness today, Kao aims to inspire meaningful action among future generations toward building a more sustainable world.
