On 14th December 2014, The Saad Abdullah conference center in Erbil city played host to the Rwanga Awards 2014. Young people, artists, writers, journalist, diplomats, winners and their families attended the ceremony. In front of a mass of attendants, the winners of the competition were announced and prizes were awarded by Mr Sokol Kondi, Head of the UN Regional Representation Office in Erbil. A total of 18 young people were awarded prizes in photography, painting, short film, poetry, short story writing and scientific invention. Rwanga also recognized the achievements of two high school students being placed first for their study in the Kurdistan region for 2013-14. One winner – decorated as an exemplary citizen – created a cableway to assist people crossing between two otherwise separated villages in the Qaladze sub district.
The awards ceremony commenced with a children’s choir singing a rendition of “We are Young”, with children from both Fig club and the Cambridge School joining in song. This was followed by Anna, a world-renowned sand artist from Russia, who was the first person to display art in this format in Kurdistan. Nawa, the Kurdish music group, performed traditional Kurdish songs and the ceremony ended with a performance by Fire Flies, the shadow theater group from Ukraine, who were specially invited by Rwanga Foundation.
A final surprise was in store in the form of Kurdish star Ammar Kufy. He arrived back in Kurdistan unbeknown to all attending the event, surprising everyone by appearing on stage and singing a songs from his repertoire. He thanked Rwanga for organizing the awards and for their continued support of Kurdistan’s youth.
The Rwanga Awards were established to highlight and inspire the talent of the Kurdish youth.
