AN ART COMPETITION FOR CHILDREN TO DESIGN A UN STAMP ON THE THEME ‘WE CAN END POVERTY’

"Always engaging, often skillful beyond expectation and sometimes revealing of a national style or tradition, the artwork embodies the hopes and dreams of the world’s children for the eradication of poverty."Teresa Fasolino, Illustrator, judge for the Competition

The International Children’s Art Competition was organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs in collaboration with the Department of Public Information and the United Nations Postal Administration to commemorate the INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY  and the first UNITED NATIONS DECADE FOR THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY. The children were to design a United Nations stamp on the theme “WE CAN END POVERTY.”

Over 12,000 children from all over the world participated in the Competition. Through their artwork, the children demonstrated enormous creativity, skills, thoughtfulness and concern for the poor. They show us that poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon and a variety of actions can lead to its eradication.

Trying to depict the theme of the Competition “We can end poverty” the majority of children tell us that the richer countries and individuals should help those in need. They depict solidarity, cooperation and fairness as key values indispensable for ending poverty. Many children point to the existence of inequality and divisions in the world and suggest greater sharing and unity. Many give emphasis to the importance of love and compassion. Numerous entries depict the significance of education for poverty eradication. Children from developing countries often show the importance of small-scale farming for self-sufficiency. Many children think that employment, urbanization and the promotion of technology can help end poverty. A number of children, in particular children from countries in conflict, stress that the world needs peace and security to end poverty.

In children’s words:

"People are poor not because they are lazy, but because of war, famine, natural disasters…What they hope for is actually very simple: good harvest, peace, education, technology and health. That’s all they ask so why don’t we help them?" Au Yeung Ching,  age 15, China

“Nobody should be imprisoned by poverty and violence. Education and reaching out to each other is the ladder to step out of poverty and into peace and a bright future.” Sonja Mohr, age 15, Namibia

 “Find work – give work – work together to end poverty” Mariyam Azka Hassan, age 6, USA

“We can end poverty by developing our talents.” Dimas Ananda, age 9, Indonesia

 “We can end poverty if our grown-ups stop spending money for arms and bombs…” Bahtiyar Aliyev, age 9, Azerbaijan

 “Educating women is the best way to prevent poverty” Iaasha Siraj, age 8, Maldives