KATHMANDU, JUNE 10

Australia's Ambassador to Nepal Felicity Volk awarded prizes and certificates to winners and participants of an Inclusive Art Event for children with neuro-developmental disabilities and neurotypical children here today.

The competition was organised by Autism Care Nepal Society with support from the Australian Embassy.

Nepal Olympic Committee and Sports for All Commission also collaborated to raise awareness about autism and meaningful inclusion of children with neuro-developmental conditions in public arts and sports events. Addressing the award ceremony, Ambassador Volk said, 'I have loved seeing stereotypes broken here and stigma addressed, as we come together, whatever our circumstances, to use colour and shape and form to communicate ourselves and our stories to each other.' 'Communities can only be truly healthy when they embrace all their members, without prejudice or discrimination,' Ambassador Volk added.

Ambassador Volk said she hoped that the art event would inspire others – teachers, school administrators, parents and the community in general – to realise the importance of art as therapy and to support art education for all. 'We must promote art as a way of life, not just as an occasional leisure activity,' she said.

Over 80 children participated in the event in which senior artists and former assembly members of Nepal Academy of Fine Arts Sanjaya Bantawa and Rajman Maharjan, volunteered as judges.

A version of this article appears in the print on June 11, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.