Winning Cartoonists Honored at the 9th International Green Crescent Cartoon Contest Awards Ceremony

The 9th International Green Crescent Cartoon Contest concluded with an award ceremony held on 24 July at the Green Crescent Headquarters, where the winning artists were officially recognized for their outstanding work.

The event brought together Green Crescent President Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Dinç, Consul of Poland in Istanbul Marek Lipka, members of the Green Crescent Board and Scientific Committee, writers, publishers, and members of the media. During the ceremony, 11 distinguished cartoonists selected by the jury received their awards. The first prize went to Jean-Loïc Bélom from France, the second prize to Mümin Bayram from Türkiye, and the third prize to Grzegorz Szumowski from Poland. Achievement awards were presented to 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. This year’s Mazhar Osman Award, named in honor of the Green Crescent’s founder, was presented to Turkish artist Necdet Yılmaz by President Dinç.

"Our Children's Futures and Hopes are Being Lost to Gambling"

In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dinç emphasized the power of art in preventing addiction. Highlighting this year’s contest theme—focused on the financial and emotional toll of gambling addiction—he stated:

“This year’s theme sheds light on the profound emotional and financial damage caused by gambling. It underscores the threat gambling poses to family harmony, children’s futures, and the moral fabric of society. Our children’s hopes and tomorrows are gradually being lost in this cycle.

The participating cartoonists have captured this harsh reality with striking clarity—each work conveying the depth of volumes of written text. These works, shaped by diverse artistic perspectives from around the world, once again affirm that art is among the most powerful shields against addiction and harmful habits”.

"We Uncover the Messages Hidden in Every Line"

Prof. Peyami Çelikcan, a member of the Green Crescent Scientific Committee, delivered a keynote address titled “Humor in Preventing Addiction”. In his remarks, he noted:

“Every cartoon—whether awarded or not—tells a compelling story and delivers a powerful message about gambling addiction. Each one makes us pause and reflect, prompting us to look deeper and uncover the messages woven into every line.

We thank all the cartoonists who contributed to the contest and stood with us in our efforts to prevent addiction”.

1,165 Entries from 53 Countries

Since its launch in 2017, the International Green Crescent Cartoon Contest has aimed to harness the universal language of art to raise awareness about addictions. This year’s contest received 1,165 submissions from 649 artists representing 53 countries. The works were evaluated by a distinguished jury during a meeting held on 10 February 2025 at Sepetçiler Pavilion in Istanbul.  

Through their art, the participating cartoonists highlighted the individual and societal impacts of gambling addiction, demonstrating how creativity can serve as a powerful tool for awareness and prevention.

Prizes included 75,000 TRY for first place, 60,000 TRY for second place, and 45,000 TRY for third place. The Mazhar Osman Award also carried a prize of 75,000 TRY, while Achievement Award recipients each received 30,000 TRY. Winners in the Under-16 Category were awarded 20,000 TRY each.

For full details and to view the winning entries, visit: