YOUNGSTERS showed off their artistic skills at an award ceremony at Southampton Civic Centre.
Around 10,000 children from across the city were given the opportunity to share artwork they produced during the coronavirus lockdown.
However, just five were given award certificates for their talents.
They were invited to a special event in the Mayor’s Parlour in the Civic Centre on Tuesday.
Winner Matteo Malubay, six, who drew a picture of a beach, said he was “very happy” about his win. “I like the colours and I like how I make pictures.”
Meanwhile, Aaliyah Enemosah, also six, said it was “exciting” to get a certificate.
She added: “I feel proud and happy. I like collages and I like nature.”
Aaliyah’s drawing was of a bike in on Southampton Common, where she learned how to ride a bike during the pandemic.
Speaking about the lockdown, she said she enjoyed it but “missed school and teachers".
Her mum, Munirat Yusuf-Enemoah said of her daughter’s win: “I’m very excited, I’ve been emotional. I’m overwhelmed with joy, it’s surreal.”
The ceremony’s youngest winner, five-year-old Daisy Barclay, said she was “proud” of herself. “I drew a house and some kites. Drawing makes me feel happy".
Also among the winners were seven-year-old Ivania Kenneth and eight-year-old Emilianna Wyer.
The competition was organised by Director of Public Health for Southampton Debbie Chase, she said: “I think the last couple of years have been difficult for families, so we wanted to not only provide information about staying safe but also to think about what good has come out of that time too.
“We didn’t make Covid scary - they might have seen things on the news that might have frightened them.
“This is one of those points where we can celebrate some of the good opportunities that children had in that time to spend with their families.”
The ceremony was hosted by Mayor Jacqui Rayment and the Children's Mayor, Amaanah Hayat, and it ended with the artists touring the mayor’s rooms.
Debbie Chase added: “It was a wonderful celebration. It was really important to the children and their families, and wonderful that they’re now looking round the mayor’s private rooms to find out a bit more about this place and the history of Southampton.”
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