The awards ceremony for the CESL Asia Social Investment Initiative Kid’s Drawing Contest 2025 – “Future Urban Planners,” organized by CESL Asia in partnership with the Macau Youth Art Association, was successfully held on September 9 at the Dr. Stanley Ho Auditorium, Consulate General of Portugal in Macau and Hong Kong.
This year’s contest, themed “Future Urban Planners,” encouraged students to unleash their creativity and step into the shoes of tomorrow’s urban planners. Participants were challenged to reimagine Macau’s urban environments, envisioning a sustainable city that integrates eco-friendly spaces, smart city technologies, and community-focused urban design, bringing to life a vision where innovation, nature, and people coexist in harmony. The contest attracted over 100 students, aged 8 to 14, from more than 40 schools and institutions across Macau, with entries vividly reflecting exceptional imagination and aspirations for the city’s future urban blueprint.
Mr. Antonio Trindade, President and CEO of CESL Asia, emphasized that the contest is more than just a platform to showcase artistic talent, it is an educational opportunity that stimulates imagination and inspires innovative thinking. Through artistic creation, we aim to guide the next generation to engage with urban development from an early age, cultivating creativity and a strong sense of mission, and inspiring them to consider how innovative design can bring about positive and lasting change. In addition, he shared an inspiring message with the participants: "Your imagination is more important than what you already knew," encouraging young minds to prioritize creativity and innovation.
Mr. Lai Sio Kit, President of the Macau Youth Art Association and a member of the judging panel, commended this year’s submission for their outstanding technical skill and creativity and noted, “The young artists combined boundless imagination with a thoughtful understanding of urban development. Their complex compositions and bold use of color were striking, offering unique perspective on the future city.”
A total of 33 winners were recognized for their outstanding submissions: the Golden Award was presented to Tam Cheng Hei (Escola Choi Nong Chi Tai), the Silver Award to U Iek Hei (Hou Kong Middle School), the Bronze Award to Mak Chun Ngai (Pui Ching Middle School Macau); the Online Popularity Award to Lei Chin Wai (The Affiliated School of the University of Macau); and the Organization Supporting Artistry Awards went to Hou Kong Middle School, Escola Tak Meng, and Poly Music, based on the number of participants. In addition, 30 works were selected for special commendation.
This edition marks a notable milestone as it coincides with the 25th Anniversary of the CESL Asia Social Investment Initiative (CSII), a pioneering impact investment programme launched in 2000. CSII aims to cultivate CESL Asia’s core leadership capabilities and highlights the company’s contribution to developing local talent and growing a more resilient, inclusive and innovative community. The Kid’s Drawing Contest has become one of the flagship programmes under CSII, using creative education to raise awareness among children of social and environmental issues.
The success of the Kid’s Drawing Contest is made possible with the generous support of our employees, the community, and business partners. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our valued supporting entities, including the judging panel (in alphabetical order): IPOR - Instituto Português do Oriente, Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Center, Macau - Professional Services, Limited, University of Saint Joseph; as well as our prize sponsor: McDonald’s Macau, and media partners: Jornal Tribuna de Macau and Macau Daily Times.