Children's drawings encourage peace at UN assembly

As global delegates to the United Nations (UN) entered the General Assembly in November, they were greeted by an exhibit of children’s drawings of colorful landscapes, self-portraits and favorite activities. The drawings showed world leaders the kind of future children around the world want – one that is open, peaceful and bubbling with hope.

The “Drawing Hope —Children’s Art for Peace” exhibit included artwork and messages of peace from children in eight countries that have been affected by conflict. Children from several Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) partners in Colombia contributed artwork to the exhibit, which was coordinated by Drawing Hope Network, a global peace initiative.

“The Drawing Hope exhibit is more than an art display – it’s a call to action,” says Stacy Nam, MCC program director for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK/North Korea). She represents MCC in the network, which includes 10 organizations from around the world.

“We hope the diplomats and people at the UN see the urgency of shifting the narrative from enemy to neighbor, and perhaps friend,” says Nam. “In a time of division and isolation globally, the Drawing Hope exhibit is an example of how children are leading the way to a future that’s more connected, breaking down barriers between cultures and people.”

Other network organizations submitted artwork from children in Cambodia, South Africa, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Japan, Republic of Korea (ROK/South Korea) and DPRK. The exhibit, which was open from Nov. 10-24 for UN staff, moved to Washington D.C. in December where it will be open to the public through Jan. 30.

Nam worked together with MCC’s UN office and invited MCC partners from Colombia to submit artwork for consideration. Eight pieces were chosen from those submitted by Educación Para la Paz y Resolución de Conflictos (Edupaz; Education for Peace and Conflict Resolution), Proyecto El Nido (The Nest Project) and church peace education programs.

Nam was joined by Leidy Johana Aguirre, director of El Nido, at the grand opening of the exhibit on Nov. 11, along with staff from MCC’s National Peace and Justice Ministries, representatives from the UN and staff from the network’s organizations. The next day she spoke at a Drawing Hope roundtable for members of civil society and faith-based organizations and at MCC’s UN student seminar.  

Aguirre explained that violence in Colombia has morphed from decades of fighting between armed groups in the mountains to violence in homes, the streets and relationships. The violence is rooted in poverty, exclusion and lack of opportunity, she says, which especially affects vulnerable women, children and youth.

Among the most vulnerable are teenage mothers, who get two years of support at El Nido as they learn to care for themselves and their children. “So we have to create a space of safety and belonging, a space where they can find their voices, their value, their purpose,” Aguirre says.

“What happens at El Nido is very much like what happens in a real nest, like a fragile life is cared for, protected and prepared until it’s ready to fly. So that’s what peace feels like to me. Holding space for others to grow, to heal, to discover their wings.” 

In the exhibit is a self-portrait of 15-year-old mother at El Nido. She says she enjoys playing basketball, reading books and eating chicken and rice. Her name is not used for her privacy.

With her drawing she writes to other children who may see the traveling exhibit. “Be happy just the way you are. Don’t let anyone treat you badly. Be respectful children towards others, kind to everyone and to those who need it. Let’s stay united — no matter our differences or the color of our skin. We are all human beings.”

Edupaz, an organization that educates at-risk children and teens in Colombia, also submitted artwork for the UN exhibit.

Director Martha Cortés writes from Colombia, saying, “We are joining this beautiful art exhibition project because the colors, pencils and drawings presented here contain different expressions such as joy, wisdom, empathy, compassion and imagination of children and adolescents as builders of peace in their educational communities and churches. Their strokes inspire us to dream of a world where it is dignified to live for everyone.” 

The Drawing Hope exhibit has its roots in an art exchange starting in 1996 when children from South Korea drew self-portraits and wrote friendship messages to children in DPRK. Children in both countries continued to exchange artwork until the early 2020s, and some participated with in-person visits.

Okedongmu Children in Korea, followed by Friends of Northeast Asia Children’s Art Exhibit, coordinated the exchanges that eventually evolved into the Drawing Hope Network. The network’s purpose is “to foster solidarity and learning” especially among young people living in countries of conflict.   

In 2023, the first Drawing Hope exhibit was held in Los Angeles, followed by exhibits in Belfast, Cape Town, the UN, and now Washington D.C.

In addition, the network has offered an international-intergenerational dialogue and learning tour in South Korea. Network members are planning more opportunities to share experiences and build solidarity across borders.  

“This year marks the 80th anniversary of the division of the Korean Peninsula,” Nam says, “and over 75 years since the Korean war began.” In the midst of this context, the network allows grassroots peacebuilders from conflict-affected regions to connect.

“These local-to-local interactions are essential for sustainable peace,” Nam says. “As seen in Colombia and other contexts, peace agreements must be supported by bottom-up efforts that support transformed narratives toward peace.”

The UN exhibit was organized by Okedongmu Children in Korea and the American Friends Service Committee with the Quaker UN office. The permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations in New York sponsored the exhibit. ReconciliAsian, an organization connected to Mennonite Church USA, also participated in the exhibit.