Children in Greece highlight importance of unity, solidarity, equality

Results of national student contest on the 75^th anniversary of the United Nations

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 75^th 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 75^th 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”.

The student contest on the UN 75^th anniversary, authorised by Greece’s Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, was coordinated by UNHCR Representation in Greece in cooperation with 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, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th grade of primary school, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd grade of Junior High School and 1^st 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.

 

Additional links:

• 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.
• Discover more UN Competitions, awards, podcasts, mobile apps and video games.