Some of last year’s Ugandan contestants
The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest is back for its 18th edition, offering children aged 15 and below a unique platform to unleash their creativity and envision the future of mobility through art.
As with previous years, the 2024/25 edition will include both national and world contests, according to CFAO Mobility Uganda. Submissions for the Uganda national contest opened today, November 11, and will run through February 21, 2025.
In Uganda, the top three artworks from each age category will win exciting prizes, including school fees, and will automatically advance to the world contest as Uganda’s representatives, giving them the chance to compete with dreamers from around the globe.
At the world contest level, winners in each category will receive $5,000 (about Shs 18 million) for themselves and $10,000 (about Shs 36 million) for their school, while each of the six best finalists per category will be awarded $3,000 (about Shs 11 million).
Since its launch in 2004, the annual Toyota Dream Car Art Contest has received approximately 9.4 million entries from 144 countries and regions, with a mission to “Produce Happiness for All.” Toyota envisions a society where children can dream of a brighter future and believes in the power of creativity as a driving force.
The 17th edition, held last year, marked Uganda’s debut in the contest, where over 500 artworks were submitted for the national competition. Globally, the contest was hosted in 90 countries and regions, attracting a total of 712,845 entries by March 2024.
One grand prize winner and seven finalists were selected globally across the three age categories: ages 7 and under, ages 8 to 11, and ages 12 to 15. Additionally, two special awards were given: the “Let’s Change the Future of Cars” Award and the “Waku-Doki” Award.
Some of the 2024 global winners included:
• Category 1 (ages 7 and under): Daniela Smausova from the Czech Republic for Our Flying Car
• Category 2 (ages 8-11): Warisara Samrit from Thailand for Lunch Car for Children
• Category 3 (ages 12-15): Damion Deven from Indonesia for P3truck (Provision-Promotion-Prosperity truck)
• Let’s Change the Future of Cars Award: Ichika Kojima (age 11) from Japan for A car that relies on photosynthesis
• Waku-Doki Award: Moisey Nam (age 13) from South Korea for Puzzle Car
“Dreams cannot be limited. They are what motivate us to go for what we want in life. For children, dreaming is an act of courage, giving them the imaginary leap of faith, they need as they begin thinking about their future,” said Isaac Tegule, marketing manager at CFAO Mobility Uganda.
Adding: “This contest is about much more than just art; it’s about building strong, lasting connections with our communities and customers. We hope to inspire the next generation—our children, who are the future of society, to develop an interest in cars and the Toyota brand, fostering meaningful ties with them from an early age. Through this initiative, we aim to not only enhance Toyota’s familiarity and positive image across Uganda but also to draw on the creative insights of young minds to fuel innovative ideas for Toyota’s future development,” Tegule added.
The contest is open to all Ugandan children aged 15 and under and is divided into three categories:
• Category 1: 7 years and under
• Category 2: 8-11 years
• Category 3: 12-15 years
Artwork submissions can be sent electronically via email to dreamcar.ug@cfao.com or delivered to any CFAO Mobility branches or authorized service centres nationwide.
Source: The Observer
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