Results of national student contest on the 75th anniversary of the United Nations
“All the nations of the world can unite to face problems on earth for a better future!”. Drawing by Dimitris Terzopoulos, 5th grade student, 3rd Primary School of Thessaloniki, Award
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in Greece and the Οrganising Committee of the national student contest “The UN turns 75: We shape today the future we imagine”, are pleased to announce the contest winners.
In 2020, the United Nations launched a global conversation to mark its 75th anniversary at a time of great challenge for the humanity, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Over one million respondents and thousands of organizations across the world took part in this process, while in Greece the student contest on the UN 75 called on students of all grades to actively participate in the dialogue.
Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, more than 500 students in Greece responded to the contest’s call, half of them from a refugee background, sharing their hopes, concerns and views on the global challenges of our time.
The students worked in groups or individually, with the support of their teachers, parents, guardians and caregivers with the view to explore the questions set by the contest and submit original texts, posters, drawings, videos and comics.
Children’s concerns expressed through their works focused on the need for peace, equal opportunities, access to basic services such as health, protection of the environment and the importance of freedom.
In the aftermath of the global dialogue on the UN 75th anniversary, which highlighted the public’s concerns for an inclusive post-COVID-19 recovery, children in Greece sent their own powerful message about the importance of unity, solidarity and equality in this effort.
Talking about his drawing titled “Is the fate of the world in our hands?”, H.M, an unaccompanied child who excelled in the contest, said: “When I was drawing, I was wondering why it is so difficult for people to live together, although we are all humans. I wish we could all feel in our daily life the way I felt when I was painting this drawing”.
“Is the future of the world in our hands?” - Η.Μ., 1st Grade, High School, Skaramagas open accommodation site, support activities for unaccompanied children run by NGO Terre des Hommes, Attica, Special mention
“Listen to the children of the world!” Poster by the students of the 2nd Kindergarten of Oinofyta (Reception class -DYEP), Voiotia, Central Greece, Special mention
“With nou (r)”, N. M., 1st Grade, High School, “Inoi” Accommodation shelter for unaccompanied minors, NGO European Expression, Award
“Future humans”, Rahmani Ashkan, 2nd Grade of the 5th Junior High School of Kallithea, Attica, Award
“The birds, the woman and the nature” - Sakina Hussein, 1st Grade, Junior High School, Refugee housing facility “Loutra Neas Appolonias”, Municipality of Volvi, North Greece Non-formal educational activities run by the NGO SolidarityNow , Special mention
“No human without rights” - Emmanouil Xylos , 1st Grade of the Junior High School of Ano Mera, Mykonos island, Award
“The future I dream of” - Evgenia Giannakopoulou, 6th Grade of the 3rd Primary School of Thessaloniki, Special mention
“The right to dream” - Omar Alhamada, 5th Grade, Primary School, Non-formal Education Center on Samos island, run by the NGO Praksis, Distinction
“On a hot air balloon for a different world” - Dimitrios Gkanias , 4th Grade of the 1st Primary School of Kalamaria, Thessaloniki, Special mention
“We want peace, cooperation, equality, solidarity, freedom and love!” - Poster by the students of the 1st Kindergarten of Voula, Attica, Award
The student contest on the UN 75th anniversary, authorised by Greece’s Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, was coordinated by UNHCR Representation in Greece in cooperation with the contest’s Organising Committee consisting of UNRIC – the UN Regional Information Centre (Office for Greece and Cyprus), the UNICEF Office in Greece, the International Organization for Migration – IOM Office in Greece, the Greek Council for Refugees (GCR), the Panhellenic Association of Arts Teachers, the Panhellenic Association of Literature Teachers and the Hellenic Theatre/ Drama and Education Network (TENet).
The contest was held online from November 2020 to February 2021 and attracted participation from primary and secondary education schools, including refugee reception classes (DYEP), as well as by facilities run by NGOs providing non-formal education and other support services to refugee children.
The members of the Organizing Committee evaluated all the entries and awarded the best work per grade (Kindergarten, 4th, 5th, 6th grade of primary school, 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade of Junior High School and 1st grade of High school) and one special mention per grade. The awarded entries will receive a hybrid tablet that includes a keyboard and functions as a computer as a prize, while special mentions will receive symbolic gifts. All participants will be given commemorative diplomas for their participation in the contest.
The Committee would like to warmly thank all the students and schools that took part in the contest for their powerful and creative works, as well as their teachers, parents, guardians and caregivers for their support.
All awarded entries and the analytical results of the contest are hosted here.
Visit our 3D online exhibition hosting the contest’s winning entries here.
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