The first competition in the series kicked off in Jaffna, situated in the northern peninsular. A group of eager girls and boys gathered at the Fisheries Community Hall in Thellipellai for the competition which was publicized through colourful posters put up in IDP sites and through announcements on Internews radio. NRC Offices in Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Kalmunai, Puttalam, Vavuniya and Jaffna held competitions during the week of June 7-13. Parents, local authority officials and local community took part in the events.



In each district participants aged from 8-12 were provided paper and crayons, and given up to one hour to complete their drawings. Artists of the three best pictures were awarded prizes and certificates while other participants received certificates of participation and token gifts. The panel of external judges ranged from art teachers in local schools, officials from local authorities and other organizations.



“I am so happy to take part in this competition” said a shy Puhalini Vigneswaran in Jaffna. Her picture depicted a white house with red doors and windows, on a side sat a dog and a flower pot. It appeared to depict hope for a stable and happy life and a positive outlook for the future. Mariyadas Krishan‘s picture was a neat kaleidoscope of colour, carefully separated into different shapes while P. Anton’s picture told the story of his journey through the Vanni during the war.

“These children are more vulnerable than other children in the community since their families belong to the IDP community. Many of their parents suffer from poverty. They require more psychological help and I am happy that NRC selected them for the art competition," A.C.M. Fareed, the vice-principle of Hidayath Nagar Muslim School said.

N. Leninraj who won first prize in Trincomalee had a philosophical outlook as he described his drawing, “The world is developing. Rockets are launched to space. Transportation is developed and there are even floating houses. People live happily in huge buildings, IT has seen great advancements. But we still live in a tent under the hot sun, sleeping under the same sky, in the same world.

Leninraj and his family had been originally displaced from Sampoor when he was aged 08. Now he is 12 and they still live with a host family in Kaddaiparichchan. Drawing is his hobby and he recalls his favourite drawing as that of a beloved calf his family once reared in Sampoor. Both the calf and the drawing are now lost.

For many the competition was an opportunity to exhibit their talent while for some it provided a medium for creative expression. As one teacher explained, “The art competition helped children who have trouble expressing themselves verbally. It allowed such children to express their feelings, it will also pave the way to improving their artistic ability and communication skills.”

For T.Nirojitha who has resettled with her family in Chenaiyoor, it seems to have provided just such a channel. She smiles as she looks at her drawing, “peace is blooming… all communities, Muslims, Burghers, Sinhalese and Tamils are joining their hands together.”



The art competition was organized with the aim of creating awareness about World Refugee Day, to provide NRC staff an opportunity to understand and value their role as humanitarian workers and to build NRC’s visibility and create recognition for the organization among its beneficiaries. NRC also used the opportunity to give prominence to its donors in the respective districts with visibility through banners and posters.