17 November 2014 – Dubai Lynx are proud to introduce the FP7 School Print Competition, aimed specifically at students between the ages of 14–18 attending schools in the MENA region. The competition looks to nurture creativity within schools and create a platform for talented youths to promote their skills and get noticed by some of the industry’s most talented professionals.
Launching today, the competition, requires entrants to create one print ad and one activation or social media idea in response to a brief set out by Smartlife. Smartlife is a not-for-profit, social club registered with the Community Development Authority, Government of Dubai. Through learning and fundraising programmes Smartlife works to provide opportunities for the children of blue-collar workers in Dubai to get an education and fulfil their dreams. The inaugural challenge asks students to produce a print or poster campaign which should enable people to empathise with the labourers and their children and persuade them to donate to Smartlife’s SAPNA Fund. The brief encourages students to communicate the message that this Fund “Helps build the dreams of the ones who build our cities, our homes and our dreams.”
Commenting on the new competition, Emma Farmer, Festival Director of Dubai Lynx says, “By providing an opportunity for students to realise their aspirations while still in school, this competition acts as a catalyst to propel these talented young individuals to explore and refine their skills early on. Fostering new talent is something that we firmly believe drives the industry and develops a culture of creative bravery.”
Speaking on behalf of official sponsor FP7, Sasan Saeidi, Managing Director FP7/DXB says, “High achieving young talent is what we as an industry need more than anything today. Our future success is dependent on the quality of people we bring into it. We need a passionate and young at heart workforce and we feel schools are the very foundation of this source. We aim to work harder with the Ministry of Education, IAA and Dubai Lynx to further develop programs to harness talent early on.”
The FP7 Regional CEO, Tarek Miknas also takes to heart the very purpose and foundations of this project saying, “The next generation are the very ‘Voices of the New Middle East’ that we represent as a brand. They have grown up in a different world – one of greater confidence, ambition and opportunity than any other that has proceeded. It’s our responsibility and pleasure to support and nurture them, doing our part in guiding their success. We look forward to learning from them as much as they will from all the organizations and people involved in this program.”
Presiding over the jury for student competitions, which also include the Masar Student Creative Award for Print and the Dubai Lynx Integrated Student Award, is Ramsey Naja, Chief Creative Officer, JWT MEA. He and his panel of experts will assess the creative component while ensuring that the entry meets the criteria laid out in the brief.
The competition is now open to students in schools across the MENA region aged 14-18 and will remain open until 11 December 2014. Submissions which have been shortlisted will be exhibited at the Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity. Winners will be awarded at a special student presentation during the Festival. The brief in full, rules and further information about the competition can be found at http://www.dubailynx.com/enter/school_awards/overview/.