„My child through the lens” – contest for our lovelies

One of Dżem’s songs says that only moments of life are beautiful. Many people would like to add “especially if they are moments from our children’s lives”. We are helpless in the fight with time that passes and through the lens we are trying to stop the intangible moments…

We go back to the moments that are gone with strong emotions when we look at photo albums – we go back to the time when our baby, having no teeth yet, smiled at its mum for the first time, to the pink little feet, to the first birthday with one candle in the cake… Maybe this is why the contest organised by “Kurier Wileński”— “My child in the lens” —has been so popular for fifteen years. Children are the most important and the most beautiful ones. Simply.

On Friday, 31^st May, all small and bigger roads were leading to the Primary School in Liepkalnis, Vilnius, where the ceremony of awarding our lovelies, whose pictures (together with the interesting descriptions) the commission choose for the last stage of the contest “My child in the lens” took place.

“The blue office” up there kept the weather forecast for the day secret, so, because of the chance of rain, the ceremony took place in the school auditory room, where the temperature was high because of applause for the hosts, who prepared an amazing concert and for the lovely children who were receiving the awards.

There were 60 finalists of the contest (because it was the 60^th birthday of the daily newspaper) and they received awards founded by generous sponsors.

—Thank you for taking the effort to send the pictures, for the will to share the most beautiful shots from your lives — said the editor of ”Kurier Wileński”, Robert Mickiewicz, to the numerous children and their parents. — I am glad that the newspaper could show how beautiful children we have in the Vilnius Region!

It is not a secret that many people start reading “Kurier” from the last page because that’s where the pictures of kids sent to the newspaper are printed. It does not matter whether one looks at his or her own kids or on someone else’s children – such photographs always inspire positive emotions.

Marzena Gulecka’s kids participate in the contest for nobody knows which time and now it is difficult to count how many pictures have been sent for the “My child in the lens” and “My pet” contests, where kids were posing with their beloved pets.

—Kids like posing very much; they have to see if a picture turned out well on the digital screen at once. – says Marzena Gulecka, mother of Agatka and Tomek. – And since we like looking at such pictures holding them in our hands instead of using a computer screen, we prefer printing them at once. Then, dad helps us to choose the best pictures and grandma invents descriptions. And we send the photos to the editorial office. An issue of the newspaper is then saved, since Agatka or Tomek have their picture in it.

Norbert Kowalewski, who is 2.5 years old, came to the ceremony of awarding finalists with his parents and his 1.5 year old (!) sister, Dorotka who, despite the noise was supporting him sleeping in her chair. Dorotka is still waiting for winning the contest but Norbert is a real celebrity now.

—Norbert prefers to photograph rather than to be photographed. He wants to have the camera in his hands – Agnieszka Kowalewska, his mum, is laughing. – Just like a typical boy, he likes electronic devices, remote controls, the TV set, the computer.

Weronika Milewska (2.5 years old) came from Šalčininkai. As he mum says, the daughter is very active, she likes participating in many things and she also likes the attention to be focused on her.

–Just like every child, she likes playing tricks a bit, she likes emphasising that she is “little” in contrast to Sebastian, who is 8 years old.

For the end of the event there came a surprise – readers’ award for Julia Mikonytė, whose picture with soft toys received over 100 votes. She received an additional award from “Sofina” company, represented by CEO Zofia Matarewicz.

Julia, who is 5 years old, has participated in the contest for the fourth time. Her mum sent the picture but Julia chose it herself.

 —Julia goes to „Aušrinė” nursery– kindergarten and she is almost ready to go to the preparatory group. She likes the kindergarten, she likes playing, she likes being with other children – says her mum Lilia Mikonienė. – Julia decided which picture she wants to send to the editorial office. She is happy with the award since she likes games — she can play with the whole family.

The ceremony of giving awards takes place in a different educational institution each year – is allows parents to see how a school works and what is has achieved.

The chief editor of “Kurier”, Zygmnut Klonowski, graduated from the school in Liepkalnis years ago. He called it “the best and the most patriotic school in Vilnius”. Before the war it bore than ems of Józef Piłsudski. It is located in the Gate of Dawn parish. Today, the Liepkalnis Primary School tries to be as friendly for children as possible.

The school’s life is intense. Only on Friday there was a real marathon of events, as Helena Gasperska, the headmaster, said: we had the official end of school year in the primary school, two assemblies in the Russian and Polish schools, At night the school was the place of the ceremony that ended the contest of “Kurier Wileński”.

—The school s friendly for children, we have good teachers, we try to keep up with the requirements of the modern times — said the headmaster.

—When it comes to results of teaching, we have our winners in contests, the children have reasons to show off. They take high paces in contests in the city and even in international ones. We do all we can to make the school a pleasant, cosy, nice place, to make the kids feel at home, to create a good atmosphere.

Lilia Jaselionienė will take care of the future first grade.

—She is a teacher with a great job experience — says Helena Gasperwicz. — It is going to be her next first grade. She is prepared to work with children both methodologically and methodically. It’s not a secret that the first grade is the hardest to tech. One has to teach the kids all the basic things.

During the ceremony there was a concert prepared by the small and the bigger artists from the school in Liepkalnis. Folk dance and contemporary dance could be observed on the stage, as well as songs performed with choreography. All shown life, with engagement and fantasy.

—I have to show off: we have a really good music teacher, Ms Renata Joknienė, and a really good choreographer, Mr Bożena Ustianiwska. — says the headmaster. — The whole event was managed by the fourth grade’s teacher, Maryna Szymańska, with help of her pupils.

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The contest is finished, all awards are delivered, and the editorial office wishes all the children and their parents a good summer and new meetings on “Kurier Wileński’s” pages!

SWEET TASTE OF VICTORY

All finalists of the “My child in the lens” contest received awards — books, games, sweets from the sponsors. Without them the event would not be possible. Sweet awards for the lovelies were founded by the “Lisenas” company, represented by the chairwoman Lucyna Kałtan and Regina and Czesław Milewski, who manage the “Kamnion” company founded cookies for the children. The kids received balloons from “Dilada” company, represented by Maria Lbul. Halina Jaczuńska, the author of the newly published book Kolorowe kredki — bajki babci Haliny (Colourful crayons — fairytales of grandma Halina) also founded an award for each finalist. The general sponsor — the “Granna” company — founded board games and logic games for children. Andrzej Podworski, the commercial director of “Kurier Wileński” made sure that each smallest candy was given to a child.

Source: http://kurierwilenski.lt/2013/06/03/moje-dziecko-w-obiektywie-konkurs-naszych-milusinskich/http://zw.lt/wilno-wilenszczyzna/w-ejszyszkach-pomnik-powstania-styczniowego-autorem-projektu-jest-wicemer-rejonu/

Tłumaczenie by Emilia Zawieracz w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Emilia Zawieracz within the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu.