» Children’s artwork on COVID-19
In November 2020, WHO’s Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean organized a regional art competition on COVID-19 for children from different age groups across the Region. Children between the ages of 8 and 18, categorized into 5 different age groups, were encouraged to submit drawings on their perceptions of how COVID-19 has impacted them and their families, and their physical and mental health, and their education and personal lives.
Process
A participation form was sent by the WHO Regional Office to all WHO country offices to share with ministries of health and ministries of education, including guidance on the theme of the competition, conditions of entry, and the process for receiving scanned versions of drawings/paintings. Artwork was received through WHO country offices or the Director of the Department of International Relations, Ministry of Health.
More than 1500 drawings were submitted from children in 12 out of 22 countries in the Region. Out of these drawings, 36 winners were selected by a panel of professional artists selected by WHO’s Regional Office in Cairo, Egypt. The winning entries were classified and judged according to the following five age groups: 8–9, 10–11, 12–13, 14–15 and 16–18 years.
Results and prizes
In addition to financial prizes totaling US$ 4550 (varying from US$200 (1st prize) to US$ 100 (5th prize), each winner also received a certificate of merit.
Visibility activities planned by the Regional Office
- Physical art exhibition at WHO’s Regional Office in Cairo
- A virtual online art gallery displaying the winning entries
- Sharing winning entries with media and TV programmes across the Region
- Framed artwork in staff offices
- Posts on all regional social media platforms
