Youth with Refugees Art Contest
Youth with Refugees Art Contest
What if your creativity had the power to spread hope? 💙
For the third edition of the Youth with Refugees Art Contest, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, partnered with UNIQLO. The five best drawings submitted on the theme “Hope Away from Home” have been turned into graphic shirts available for sale in selected UNIQLO stores with UTme! service in 12 countries. Profits will aid UNHCR’s efforts in refugee emergencies.
Virag's design
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About “Hope Away from Home”
Over 100 million people worldwide have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution and violence. Hope and solidarity are key for refugees to rebuild their lives.
On World Refugee Day, we asked young artists worldwide to reflect on the meaning of hope. Out of 4,000 contributions, we are now bringing five designs to life through the “Hope Away from Home” collection to raise funds for refugees.
Asifiwe's design
Georgette's design
Virag's design
Afya's design
Mawardi's design
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Discover the Hope Away from Home collection
Each shirt tells a powerful story of hope, whether in the form of peace, friendship, memories, love or unity. The collection will remain available throughout 2024.
Where are the shirts available? 🌏
The shirts are available in selected UNIQLO stores in 12 countries: Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
View the following map for more information or consult the list of stores.
4,000 young artists
in 130 countries participated in the art contest
6 million content views
and 300k engagement resulted from the contest promotion
$100,000 donation
UNIQLO donates $100,000 and $3 for each purchase of a T-shirt from the collection.
5,000 shirts
as well as 1,000 tote bags are also provided by UNIQLO to the UNHCR shop
Japan flagship store
Thailand - display
Malaysia - press conference
Thailand - art exhibition
Malaysia - demonstration of shirt printing
Malaysia - collection launch
UK - Influencer visit
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Collection in UNIQLO stores
Around the world, selected UNIQLO stores are selling the collection throughout 2024. The t-shirts are being promoted through in-store displays, press events and exhibitions.
The five UNHCR X UNIQLO art contest winners are Virag, Georgette, Afya, Asifiwe, and Mawardi (from left to right).
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The artists behind the shirts 🎨
The five artists behind the t-shirts are:
- Virag, a 28-year-old humanitarian worker from Hungary;
- Georgette, a 14-year-old refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo living in Tanzania;
- Afya, a 14-year-old from the USA;
- Asifiwe, a 14-year-old refugee from Burundi who resettled to the USA; and
- Mawardi, a 20-year-old Ethiopian refugee based in Somalia.
My friends are a source of strength and hope for me. We may be separate, but I am sure we're together in heart and that our memories will continue to live on.
Social media
Influencer content
Several influencers engaged their audiences to show solidarity with refugees through the art contest. Actress Ella Gross promoted the contest to her followers, reaching 1,3 million views organically.
Engaging youth audiences
This TikTok video, which reached 4,5M views, is part of a series engaging youth audiences with the art contest.
@refugees#ArtistsOfTikTok #WithRefugees #ArtContest #GraphicTees ♬ Makeba (Ian Asher Remix) - Jain & Ian Asher
Art workshops for refugees
From Cox’s Bazar to Tokyo, UNHCR and UNIQLO organized art workshops for refugees to join the art contest.
Over half of the art contest participants were refugees themselves.
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Previous editions
🥇 Who won the 2021 edition?
We partnered with ethical manufacturing company Alive & Kicking, as well as with Vodafone for a spinoff edition.
🥇 Who won the 2020 edition?
We partnered with Japanese animation studio Speed Inc. and pencil manufacturer Caran d’Ache.