CONGRATULATIONS TO COSTI'S 2021 REFUGEES & HUMAN RIGHTS CHILD & YOUTH POETRY CONTEST WINNERS!
The winners of COSTI’s 2021 Refugees & Human Rights Child & Youth Poetry Contest were announced on June 17, 2021, in recognition of World Refugee Day. Pina Alberelli-Arone, President of COSTI and Executive Director E, Mario J. Calla praised participants for their achievement during our virtual event.
The leadership team from participating schools, family and friends, came together to congratulate the students and celebrate their achievements. The top three winners of each division were given an opportunity to read their poems.
While during this pandemic we experienced social distancing and interruption in learning, we were pleased to receive a good representation of poems from schools across the Ontario. The poems were evaluated by a selection committee and judged based on originality, creative imagination, characterization, artistic quality, and adherence to the topic. Thanks to to Nicholas Keung, Immigration Reporter for the Toronto Star and members of the selection committee for their ongoing support for the contest.
The purpose of COSTI’s Refugees & Human Rights Child & Youth Poetry Contest is to bring greater attention to human rights abuses and the plight of refugees. The competition was open to all students in Grades 4-12 that attend school in the Province of Ontario.
Please join us in congratulating the winners of the 2021 Poetry Contest! First prize winners received Apple Airpods with Wireless Charging Case, second prize winners received Beats by Dre Solo3 Wireless Headphones and third prize winners received Beats by Dre Pill+ Portable Bluetooth Speaker.
Click on the names below to read the winning poems for all three divisions.
DIVISION I: GRADES 4 TO 6 WINNERS
1st Prize
HIMMAT SINGH KALIRAI
Age 10
Elementary Virtual School, Grade 5
2nd Prize
ANA CIUREA
Age 11
Elementary Virtual School, Grade 6
3rd Prize
ALAYA FAZAL
Age 9
Plum Tree Park Public School, Grade 4
3rd Prize
SEHER NIAZ
Age 11
Plum Tree Park Public School, Grade 6
DIVISION II: GRADES 7 TO 8 WINNERS
1st Prize
MIKAELA PEREIRA
Age 13
Sacred Heart of Jesus , Grade 8
2nd Prize
NEHMET BADHAN
Age 13
Sir Isaac Brock Public School, Grade 8
2nd Prize
RIBEENA PIRANTHAPAN
Age 14
Sam Chapman Public School, Grade 8
3rd Prize
JOO-EUN LEE
Age 13
John Knox Christian School (Oakville), Grade 8
DIVISION III: GRADES 9 TO 12 WINNERS
1st Prize
AALIYAH JALEEL
Age 17
Dunbarton High School, Grade 12
2nd Prize
MATTHEW PECHEN-BERG
Age 17
Richmond Hill High School, Grade 12
3rd Prize
HUZAIFA SAFRI
Age 15
Richmond Hill High School, Grade 9
Please take a moment to read the poems that received Honourable Mentions in all three divisions by clicking on the links below. Students received a certificate recognizing their achievement.
Division I Honourable Mentions
