The initiative encourages children to draw creative maps of the world, helping them to develop their cartographic knowledge and talent.

Sofia, 31 March 2019 - ESRI Bulgaria continued its tradition and supported the 11th National Competition for Children’s Maps “We Love Maps” and awarded prizes to the participants. The competition is organized by the Bulgarian Cartographic Association, with the support of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, as part of the International Barbara Petchenik Children’s World Map Drawing Competition. The six best maps will represent our country at the Exhibition on the occasion of the 29th International Mapping Conference in Tokyo, Japan, July 15-20, 2019.

Nearly 150 participants between 3 and 15 years old from all parts of Bulgaria took part in the competition. For the first time, children from Algeria and Iraq who live in the Registration and Reception Center for migrants in Ovcha Kupel joined the contest. The winners in the different categories were awarded at a special ceremony at the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Geodesy. The children received numerous awards and presented their original drawings and cartographic interpretations of the Earth to the broad audience.

The jury awarded the grand prize to Rada Skoumova, 15 years old from Sofia for the drawing “Creating Worlds”, which together with the winners in the other age groups will represent Bulgaria at the international competition in Japan this July.

• Slavena Izvorska and Gabriela Izvorska, 12 years, from Varna for the drawing „Bulgaria is our home“

• Viktoria Govedarova, 12 years from Kazanlak with the drawing „We love maps“

• Petq Dimitrova, 8 years from Ruse for the drawing  „With maps we are always in the right place!“

• Anna Bukovska, 7 years from Kazanlak for the drawing „We love maps“

• Stefani Ilieva, 5 years from Lesovo with the drawing „Children’s World“

After the contest, the winning drawings will be stored in the cartographic library of Carleton University and will be available on the library’s website at https://childrensmaps.library.carleton.ca/maps 

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