Sponsored Children Express their Dreams through Art

Each year our sponsored children participate in Children International’s art contest and express themselves with paint, crayons, pencils and color pastels. Sarah Jane Velasco, Communications Coordinator in Tabaco, Philippines shares just what these drawings and paintings mean to needy children.

Dreams are limitless…even the harsh realities of poverty cannot stop a child from dreaming of a better future. The artwork from this year’s workshop clearly proves this.

Children International’s annual art contest provides an opportunity to sponsored children and youth with a knack for the arts to further develop their potential. It gives them an avenue for artistic expression through drawing and painting. With “dreams” as the theme, colorful sketches of pilots, policemen, teachers, engineers, doctors, and performers in thought bubbles and other abstract representations were drawn.


For these children, the drawings are reminders of things to hope for and a promise of better days ahead. It challenges them to strive hard so that someday their dreams will be realized. Knowing that education is the key to achieving their dreams, these drawings motivate them to continue their studies and do well in school. It also gets the message across other poor children “to continue dreaming and to discover their talents” said Tisha Mae Sanchez, one of the winners in the art contest.


But it is noteworthy that at their age, these children dream not only for themselves but for their families as well. They want to become somebody someday so that they will be able to help younger siblings finish their studies and likewise chase their own dreams.

In the borderless world of dreams, using only oil pastels and canvass as their tool, these children are given the freedom to choose whoever they want to be. And if their paintings are any indicator, a bright and colorful future awaits them.


Jayson Beloso, one of our featured waiting children, found a sponsor through the blog and won 3rd place for his age group in Tabaco. Way to go Jayson!

Masterpieces

Information and photos provided by Nivedita Moitra from our Calcutta agency.

Our Calcutta agency recently held the 11th Annual Art Contest/Exhibition. Madhoboni Chatterjee, a famous danseuse, as well as a well-known painter and sculptor, inaugurated the art exhibition. In her inaugural speech, she said that she was overwhelmed by the beauty expressed in the paintings and hoped that the children who have drawn these lovely pictures would also work toward making the world a place as nice as their paintings.

Picture Perfect

Original artwork by Rosa Maria Guerra, at age 11, from Rural Guatemala.

Last year marked the 10th anniversary of the Children International Art Contest. Each year, we ask our agencies around the world to encourage sponsored children to submit artistic entries about a given theme. Then each agency sends its favorite artwork to our office in Kansas City, Missouri. To learn more about this contest, check out the slide show by visiting our video and slideshow archive by clicking here. The Art Contest slideshow can be found on the lower right hand side of the page.

The contest is happening again in a matter of weeks and we'll be sure to share with you the outstanding entries from our many talented sponsored children!

Mendoza Center readies for opening with splash of color

An oasis of real help and real hope in a desert of need – that’s the Mendoza Center. Upon entering this oasis, children, families and visitors to the community center will be greeted by a beautiful hand-painted mural. While Franklin, Connie (the regional director) and I were visiting the center in preparation for the dedication, we decided to help in the painting of the mural, which is located in the reception area.

It all started with sponsored youth, Wilmer Enrique, age 14, winning an agency sponsored art contest. Soon, Wilmer’s colorful painting of a clown became a transfer-on drawing on the wall. Members of the community have come together to help complete the mural in time for the opening of the center. Various youth, staff and younger children have spent countless hours adding their own personal touches to the mural. When these children visit the center, this mural will always remind them that they’ve made a contribution to the center that they call their own.