Amazing Artwork from our Young Beneficiaries in Honor of World Children’s Day
Did you know that children make up less than one third of the world’s population, but as of 2020, children account for nearly half of the world’s refugee population? To celebrate our young beneficiaries in honor of World Children’s Day which took place on November 20, Peace Winds has been sharing artwork from our young beneficiaries on our social media channels. See their incredible drawings and read their stories below.
Artist: Sahina Aktar Ruma
Age: 13
Country: Bangladesh
Description: Sahina can remember that three or four years ago, her city had rolling green hills with no cars and plenty of space to play. This drawing represents a place she wants to live in her future that is clean, green, and pollution-free.
Artist: Bashar Mutei Zayed
Age: 15
Country: Gaza, Palestine
Description: Bashar drew these pictures representing beautiful nature scenes he’d like to visit. Bashar lives with his mom, dad, and four brothers in the northern part of the Gaza strip where he has experienced four wars and some of the region’s heaviest bombing. He says drawing and painting has provided some relief from the psychological pressure he feels. Bashar hopes to one day be a famous artist.
Artist: Basima Haji Abdi
Age: 15
Country: Iraq
Description: Basima is an internally displaced person (IDP) meaning she was forced to leave her home due to threats of violence in Sinjar, Iraq but still lives in the country’s borders. Basima is a student living in the Shariya IDP camp in Duhok, northern Iraq. She made this drawing to represent the idea of breaking one’s chains and living freely.
Artist: Nakiboneka Rahmah
Age: 14
Country: Uganda
Description: Nakiboneka and her family were forced to leave their home in Butambala, Uganda and now live in Gaba. She drew this photo of her mother cooking to demonstrate the strength and importance of women.
Artist: Kanu Abdalla Shual
Age: 15
Country: Kenya
Description: Kanu is a refugee from Sudan who fled to Kenya due to conflict in his home country. He lives in a family of 12 people and has a passion for art and storytelling. His drawing shows children caring for each other by helping their friends wear masks correctly, and Kanu says that everyone, including children, has a responsibility to help stop the spread of covid-19.
Between 2019 and 2021, Peace Winds brought hope to more than 4,500 Syrian refugee children from the ages of zero to 17 by giving them new and improved shelters in northern Iraq. Our ongoing project will benefit 2,295 more through 2022. Some children are disabled and now have more freedom to move around their homes and camps while others no longer have to worry about leaky roofs or being exposed to the elements.
Peace Winds knows that children represent hope for the future, and we look forward to continuing to support our young beneficiaries.
The shelter upgrade project in Iraq is supported by the U.S. Consulate General Erbil and funded by the U.S. Department of State: Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.