The 9th International Green Crescent Cartoon Contest, organized to raise awareness about addictions, has concluded with an award ceremony where the winners were honored. Necdet Yılmaz, Lecturer in the Graphic Design Program at Istinye University Vocational School, received the Mazhar Osman Award during the ceremony held on July 24. Attending the event, Prof. Dr. Peyami Çelikcan, Green Crescent Science Board Member and Vice Rector of Istinye University, emphasized the importance of efforts to create social awareness in the fight against addiction.
This year’s ceremony, held at the Green Crescent headquarters in Sepetçiler Mansion, began with the screening of a film that showcased the organization’s long-standing efforts in combating addictions. The competition attracted 649 cartoonists from 53 countries, making it one of the most inclusive editions to date.
“The More We Foster a Culture of Independence, the Better”
In his opening speech, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Dinç, President of the Green Crescent, underlined that addiction is one of the most devastating problems that can befall individuals and societies.
“We cannot accept anyone facing the hardships of addiction. We cannot bear to see any of our people fall into this trap. That is why we use every means, every opportunity, every way, and every language to prevent it,” he stated.
Dinç emphasized the destructive consequences of addiction, including broken homes, disrupted work, damaged relationships, and loss of lives.
“As the Turkish Green Crescent Society, our board members, professionals, volunteer branch leaders, youth clubs, counseling center staff, over 140,000 volunteers, and science board members are fighting strongly for the independence of our people and humanity,” he added.
He expressed optimism about overcoming the problem through collective efforts:
“Our belief is that by joining forces, we will eradicate the issue of addiction from our country and the world. The more people we save, the better. The more we foster a culture of independence, the better. We hope to meet again in a future where people and humanity live free of addictions.”
“Preventive Efforts Are at the Core of Combating Addictions”
Prof. Dr. Peyami Çelikcan, Green Crescent Science Board Member and Vice Rector of Istinye University, noted that the Turkish Green Crescent is the oldest and most competent organization in the field of addiction prevention, a reputation it also upholds internationally.
“The most important mission of the Green Crescent is to fight against addictions and create widespread awareness. Preventive measures form the foundation of this struggle. We must first raise knowledge and awareness in society, thus minimizing addiction risks,” he said.
Çelikcan pointed out that the Green Crescent carries out numerous initiatives, one of which is the International Cartoon Contest now in its 9th edition:
“Cartoonists from Turkey and around the world submitted highly striking and creative works on addictions. As jury members, we truly had a hard time deciding the winners. Each year, artists interpret different forms of addiction with humor, using their drawings to convey powerful messages. These works have been extensively used by the Green Crescent and have significantly contributed to our awareness-raising goals.”
Looking ahead, Çelikcan shared plans for an even broader contest next year:
“In its 10th year, we aim to organize a much larger competition with different dimensions. With this contest, we have also placed the issue of addiction on the agenda of cartoon artists, who in a way donated their talents to the cause by creating works on addiction. They have made an enormous contribution to increasing public awareness.”
Awards Presented
During the award ceremony, attended by Polish Consul General in Istanbul Marek Lipka, Green Crescent board and science board members, writers, publishers, and members of the press, 11 cartoonists selected by the jury received their awards.
The first prize went to Jean-Loic Belom from France, second prize to Mümin Bayram from Turkey, and third prize to Grzegorz Szumowski from Poland.
Winners of the Achievement Award were Muhammet Şengöz, Hasan Ceylan, and Kürşat Zaman. In the “Under 16” category, Zeynep Irmak Yaman, Defne Yıldız, Umut Poyraz Geyik, and Irmak Oruç were recognized as promising young talents.
The Mazhar Osman Award, dedicated to the founder of the Green Crescent, was presented this year to Necdet Yılmaz from Turkey.
The event also featured video messages from winners who could not attend in person, and concluded with a group photo session.
About the Contest
The International Green Crescent Cartoon Contest has been held since 2017 to raise awareness about addictions by leveraging the universal power of art. This year, the contest received 1,165 works from 649 cartoonists representing 53 countries.
Participants used the universal language of art to highlight the individual and social impacts of gambling addiction, contributing to awareness-raising efforts in the fight against addictions.
This year’s theme, “When One Plays, Everyone Loses,” underlined that gambling addiction is not only an individual issue but also a public health problem affecting families and communities.
The winners received cash prizes: 75,000 TL for first place, 60,000 TL for second, 45,000 TL for third, 75,000 TL for the Mazhar Osman Award, 30,000 TL for each Achievement Award, and 20,000 TL for each winner in the Under 16 category.
