Embassy News
A Beautiful Lesson in Tolerance
April 14, 2011
Winners with their Families , Chargé d'Affaires William W. Jordan and President of the Algerian Muslim Scouts Nouredine Benbraham ( U.S. Embassy Photo)
In partnership with the Algerian Muslim Scouts and several leading Algerian papers, Embassy Algiers sponsored the second annual interfaith dialogue writing competition for Algerian high school students. Students from all regions of the country submitted essays in French or Arabic. The essays were judged by a panel of local religious leaders and journalists, and the three best entrants were chosen to receive scholarships for a year of English lessons. The grand prize winner also received a laptop computer. The results of the competition were announced by our partner newspapers on the day of the international opening of the year-long festival “Tlemcen, Capital of Islamic Culture.” On April 14, Charge d’Affaires William Jordan hosted a reception and award ceremony for the winners and their families with religious, cultural, civil society, and media leaders. The winners read their thoughtful essays to the supportive crowd; the press the next day hailed their words as “moving,” and a “beautiful lesson in tolerance.”
The winners of the competition were:
First Place: Ouaari Nabil, 15 years old from Constantine
Second Place (tie): Mokhbi Hanane, 16 years old from Mostaganem
Second Place: Benbrahim Yasmina, 16 years old from Tizi Ouzou