“Peace: Children’s Voices” Creative Competition

In 2026, the Year of “Independent, Permanently Neutral Turkmenistan — the Land of the Swift Steed of Dreams,” the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, the Board of the Peace Fund of Turkmenistan, the Central Council of the Magtymguly Youth Organization of Turkmenistan and the editorial office of Güneş magazine are announcing the “Peace: Children’s Voices” creative competition for students in grades 4–12 of general education schools nationwide, in honor of International Neutrality Day.

I. General Provisions

These Regulations define the aims, objectives, conditions and procedure for holding the “Peace: Children’s Voices” creative competition (hereinafter referred to as the “Creative Competition”).

The main purpose of the competition is to educate the younger generation in the spirit of patriotism, peace and humanism and on the basis of national values; identify young people’s natural talents and develop their creative abilities; widely promote a culture of peace and good-neighborliness among young people; and demonstrate children’s boundless pride in their independent and permanently neutral Homeland.

II. Competition Conditions and Procedure

Students in grades 4–12 of general education schools across the country may participate. Essays, drawings and models on the theme “Let the World Be Peaceful!” should be submitted to the organizing committees of district (city), regional, Ashgabat and Arkadag City stages. The entries should convey love for the Homeland, happy childhood, peaceful development, the importance of friendly relations, and deep love for the President and the prosperous state.

At each stage, entries selected by the jury will proceed to the next stage of the competition.

Within five days after the completion of each stage, the following documents concerning the winners must be submitted to the organizing committee of the next stage:

• the jury’s decision on the selected creative works and an assessment of each work;
• a copy of the participant’s birth certificate or passport;
• a certificate verified by the principal of the participant’s school;
• the participant’s home address and contact telephone numbers;
• two 3 × 4 cm photographs.

Entries should reflect the country’s achievements under the leadership of the President of Turkmenistan, principles of peace, major reforms and milestones achieved in the country, the achievements of permanent neutrality, including through models, the high significance of the year “Independent, Permanently Neutral Turkmenistan — the Land of the Swift Steed of Dreams,” the happy life of young people and the artistic image of the Era of the Revival of the New Epoch of the Powerful State.

Essays submitted on the theme “Let the World Be Peaceful!” must not exceed three pages.

Artwork must be created as poster-style paintings in gouache on 50 × 70 cm paper and placed in a frame. Models must also be prepared in a 50 × 70 cm format.

Works selected at the regional, Ashgabat and Arkadag City stages and submitted for the final national stage must be approved by the main education departments of the regions, Ashgabat and Arkadag City, as well as the relevant local branches and councils of the Peace Fund of Turkmenistan and the Magtymguly Youth Organization of Turkmenistan.

The competition will be held according to the following schedule:

• First stage: October 1–7, 2026, at general education schools. Two outstanding creative works will be selected in each announced category and submitted for the next stage.
• Second stage: October 12–20, 2026, in districts and cities. Three outstanding works will be selected in each category and submitted to the next stage. Winners and active participants will be awarded by local branches of the organizing bodies.
• Third stage: November 3–11, 2026, in the regions, Ashgabat and Arkadag City. Works that placed first, second and third in each category at district and city stages will participate. Winners and active participants will be awarded by local branches of the organizing bodies. The works of third-stage winners must be submitted to the General Secondary Education Department of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan by November 20, 2026.
• Final national stage: will be held in Ashgabat during the first ten days of December 2026. It will include works that placed first and second in each category at the regional, Ashgabat and Arkadag City stages.

A jury will be formed to organize and judge the final national stage. It will consist of representatives of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, the Board of the Peace Fund of Turkmenistan, the Central Council of the Magtymguly Youth Organization of Turkmenistan, the editorial office of Güneş magazine, and prominent creative professionals of the country.

At the final national stage, first, second and third places will be determined in each of the three announced categories. The jury’s decision will be final.

Winners and active participants will receive certificates of honor and commemorative gifts from the organizing bodies: the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, the Board of the Peace Fund of Turkmenistan, the Central Council of the Magtymguly Youth Organization of Turkmenistan and the editorial office of Güneş magazine. Winning works will be published in Güneş magazine.

Contact numbers:

Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan: 44-86-40;
Central Council of the Magtymguly Youth Organization of Turkmenistan: 44-89-99, 44-88-81;
Editorial Office of Güneş Magazine: 38-61-70.