AMP: Artists' Meeting Place and Resource Collective

International Day of the Eradication of Poverty: Children's Art 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.

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

Source: http://www.un.org

This was posted on the Art4Development Yahoo! Groups listserv.