They are making their voices heard.

The Lonely Boy - “My painting is about why the mother has gone far from her child. The child doesn’t understand why the mother has to leave. His mother is far from home because they do not have enough money to support the child and their family, and their life in the city. They are experiencing many difficulties. The child is living with his grandparents, and they have a difficult life. He is dreaming about a big house where all family members can live. The river in the painting shows that the challenges are fierce and the road to the future is very far. The child is always asking why his mom has to leave him behind.”- Zany, 13, Cambodia

A Child At Risk - “My painting is about a child with migrant parents. The child worked very hard to survive because his parents could not provide for him anymore. The water in the painting shows a hazard, a risky area for the child in which he can drown, and the child cannot go to school. He has feelings of hopelessness and fear.”- Lyhuor, 14, Cambodia

Homeless Girl - “My painting is about a girl who lives alone. Her migrant parents faced many challenges, and also, people around her looked down on her. They do not take care of her. She faces abuse all the time because of being a small girl in a village and she is concerned about what to eat and how to go to school.”- Nita, 15, Cambodia

A New Land - “The blue in my painting represents flash floods. The brown represents drought and areas impossible for people to stay in, so they have to migrate to the cities and work high-risk jobs such as building sites, and it is dangerous all the time. Children migrate to school and experience bullying and discrimination from unwelcoming people.”- Ming, 16, Thailand

Stop the War - “Before this, I had to live in the forest because there was fighting in the village. I want to say that for the well-being of children, please stop the violence. Free them from violence, abuse, and neglect. In my community, 50% of children dropped out because of the civil war, and there are violent attacks even at 12:30 am. I want to express my feelings about this. And also want to say that children need psychosocial support and need to attend school without fear and worrying about the future.”- Aeme, 14, Myanmar

Fantasma - “My title is based on a French term, “Fantasma,” which means ghost. It represents left-behind children and youth in BARMM facing armed conflict. They are in the process of recovery, and I am grateful to be here to bring the experiences of their voices to be heard. Despite the migration of these families to places that provide basic needs, they are still living under the ghost of their happy life. There is hope, and they offer their hands even to bad guys to bring back color to the community.”- Ador, 19, Philippines

Safer Migration - “In Central Myanmar, in one of the villages, there is drought and prices are high in the community. Economic hardship is experienced by most of the youth leaders. They are migrating to survive the situation. Some young leaders cannot attend school and cannot finish their education. The economic situation caused most of the child marriages, with girls under 18 being married off. My sister got married at 17 years old. I don’t want to end up like her.” - Eaint, 16, Myanmar

Blue Pill, Red Pill - “My painting is about a girl who is trapped and has been taken away. She is dreaming that she has two choices. - a blue pill or red pill that symbolizes to go or stay. I drew some objects here: a table and a big pillow, a chair and a trash can. These are not just random stuff but have meaning. The table represents education and the efforts she exerted to build her life. The pillow represents care and calmness. The chair represents the structure she wants in her life. The bin shows the truth she is facing, everything she hates. She is standing on a structure, on things that make her sad. She is here to make a choice. It is a flashback of her past; she is trapped, lonely, and alone. There is a small window full of colors. In real life, children barely have a choice. Give them more opportunities to thrive and do not trap them somewhere they don’t want.”- Nhien, 12, Viet Nam

Mehungson, Thailand - “My painting represents peacefulness, beauty, abundance of nature and wildlife, very clear skies, and good weather. It is a nice part of Mehungson in Thailand.” - Pang, 15, Thailand

Enough - “I would like to show you what I drew today. A family in our community that has enough food from their home gardening, they get the fruit around the house. When they have enough food, they also have enough nutrition. They are really happy when they grow fruits and crops in their home gardening. They are also very happy doing it daily. And around them, they have a lot of trees, and they have a clean environment.”- Paris, 15, Cambodia

City versus Village - “My painting is about a city versus a village. There is not a lot of jobs in the city, and there is very low pay in the city. They do not have ID cards, and if you have no ID, you get paid whatever they like, or do not get paid at all.”- Fern, 16, Thailand

Difficult Life - “The parents were divorced, migrated and left him to stay with his friend’s mother. There is not enough food and he cannot go to school, and live without any care from his parents. He is experiencing a very hard situation in the village.”  - Hien, 14, Viet Nam

Sharing Makes You Shine - “It is about a herder who lost his animals from drought/ natural disaster, specific to Mongolia’s harsh winter and after he lost his animals, he became skinny. There is support from a lady who helped him not starve. The lady is so bright, because in Mongolian culture, there is a saying you get what you plant. The seed you sow in the soil becomes a plant. It is like Karma, you get what you deserve. It is about helping others and it will give back a reward to you, some happiness.”  - Dudu, 14, Mongolia

Two Sides of Food - “It has a person in the middle and has two sides. On the left there is a tomato, carrot, fish, which are healthy food. But on the right side, it has a burger, french fries, and coke, which are not healthy. I painted this because I think it is a problem of everyone because it affects children’s health. The solution to this problem is to add more tax on fast food. The title of this painting is there’s two sides of food.” - Thuy, 14, Viet Nam

A Small Wish - “My painting is about a boy who lives far away from his parents. He is left behind, and he received a small gift from his parents on his birthday. But he is sad. He doesn’t want a gift. He just needs to be near his parents. Receiving love and care from them and being near them is the best gift for him.” - Hung, 14, Viet Nam

The Flooding in the Wall - “Myanmar is now experiencing flooding. Because of flood, people of today move from place to place to survive. When they move, they often do not have enough food. That is why I want people to have more discipline, and I hope our country becomes more prepared and careful in the future.” - Shin, 17, Myanmar

Talking with Fast Food - “This is a child whose parents moved away for a job and had to leave him behind. Because of his loneliness and lack of care from parents, he decided to look for fast food, and it is completely bad for his health.” - Nhi, 16, Viet Nam

One Table - Two Worlds - “This is the same table but from two different locations in the world. One child has enough food, enough nutritious food throughout the day. But the other child has no food to eat. He is very hungry. From the picture, one child is well-fed and healthy. But there are many children out there who do not have enough food for their basic needs. To solve this problem, we should organize food support activities.”- Duc, 13, Viet Nam

Journey of a Broken Heart - “Sri Lanka faced many economic burdens. Many chose to go abroad as a solution. In 2022, Sri Lanka faced economic crisis and because of that many Sri Lankan flew out of the country. Among them is my father. My father went abroad when I was 7 years old. Now he’s been in abroad for 9 years. He is working as a driving instructor in Qatar. He is still there. As a child with a migrant father, the challenge I faced was I was mentally struggling. Because society is pressuring me, education is pressuring me, and my parents have many expectations from me. Because of this I have a very big pressure on my mind. I managed this problem by joining children’s societies and World Vision. But not every child can do this, many children in Sri Lanka face a similar mental health challenge. If my father is in Sri Lanka or he did not go abroad, we cannot afford the daily food.” - Himanshi, 15, Sri Lanka

Braving the Storm - "This painting portrays a stormy sea. The man in the painting is my father. Despite the dangerous weather, he still goes out to sea to catch fish and provide for our family. Whenever he sets sail during a storm, I worry deeply about his safety. Through this artwork, I want to express my love and concern for my father, while also highlighting the challenges and risks faced by fishing families whose livelihoods depend on the sea. It is a reminder of the importance of protecting the lives and safety of people who must work in hazardous conditions during extreme weather. Message: Every child hopes that their loved ones will return home safely. We should work together to reduce disaster risks and protect the lives of families affected by extreme weather." - Van Boi, 14, Viet Nam

Pollution Space - "This artwork illustrates the devastating impact of pollution and global warming on both the environment and human life. Smoke and emissions from industrial factories contribute to rising global temperatures, symbolized by the blazing sun and a thermometer showing extreme heat levels. The intense heat has caused trees to wither and die, representing the deterioration of natural ecosystems and the loss of environmental balance.The painting also highlights the challenges faced by children, who are forced to live in increasingly harsh conditions due to climate change. Surrounded by scorching temperatures and degraded surroundings, they symbolize the vulnerability of future generations to the consequences of environmental neglect.Through these powerful visual elements, Pollution Space serves as a warning about the growing threat of pollution and global warming. It calls on everyone to work together to reduce pollution, protect the environment, and create a healthier, more sustainable future for children and generations to come." - Pat, 17, Thailand

Burden of Childhood - "Children are no longer able to attend school and are forced to work due to climate change & political situations. Rising numbers of child labour and they face immense pressure & burdens to earn money for their families. The wages are much lower than those of adults." - Hsu, 16, Myanmar

The Future Is In Our Hands - "Time is running out, but together we can protect our planet and build a greener, safer future for every child. This painting reminds us that time is running out to protect our planet. The upper part of the clock shows the harmful effects of environmental destruction, including air pollution, forest fires, pollution, and climate change. These crises can have serious consequences for children, threatening their health, safety, and future. The hands holding the clock symbolize that people have the power to change the situation. Through our everyday actions to protect the environment, we can help create a better future for everyone. The lower part of the clock presents a vision of a greener future, with a clean, healthy, and safe environment where children can grow, learn, and thrive. Through this artwork, the young artist encourages everyone to act now because the future of our planet--and of every child--is in our hands." - Huy Hoang, 14, Vietnam

The Crying Tree - “This painting shows a sad tree crying because of environmental pollution and climate change. The river around the tree is polluted with waste, and the sky is filled with warm colors that represent rising temperatures. The tree’s tears symbolize the suffering of nature when people do not care for the environment. The artwork reminds us that we must protect our forests, reduce pollution, and take action against global warming to create a healthier future for our planet.” - Ganchingis, 13, Mongolia

Protect - "This artwork conveys the importance of protecting forests from two major threats: wildfires and industrial expansion. At the center of the image is a person working to defend the forest by creating a firebreak, a crucial method used to prevent wildfires from spreading. The person wears a protective mask to shield themselves from the harmful smoke and dust generated by both forest fires and nearby factories. A pair of lungs serves as the main symbol of the artwork, representing the direct impact of environmental pollution on human health. The left lung is dark and damaged, illustrating the harmful effects of inhaling smoke, dust, and toxic pollutants. In contrast, the right lung is healthy and vibrant, symbolizing clean air, good health, and the positive outcomes of environmental protection.The artwork also features a drone used for forest-fire surveillance, highlighting how modern technology can support conservation efforts and help detect fires before they become uncontrollable. Through these elements, the drawing emphasizes the relationship between forest conservation, air quality, and human well-being. It encourages everyone to take part in protecting forests so that future generations can enjoy a healthier and safer environment." - Note, 14, Thailand

Technology for All: No One Left Behind - "This painting shows a future where everyone moves forward together. As technology advances, it can help us stay safe, learn more, and connect with each other. But not everyone experiences these benefits equally. When floods or disasters happen, children and people with disabilities are often the most affected. They may face bigger challenges in staying safe, getting help, or being heard. My painting tells us that we can use technology and social media in good ways--to help others, share important information, and make sure no one is forgotten." - Nam, 14, Laos

Flood In My Country - "This painting shows a flood rescue scene in Vietnam. Rescue workers are using a boat to help families reach safety while houses are surrounded by water. Despite the difficulties caused by the flood, people continue to help and support one another. The artwork highlights the kindness, courage, and unity of the Vietnamese people during challenging times. Together, we can protect our communities, prepare for disasters, and ensure that every child is safe during floods." - Han Han, 13, Viet Nam

Our Earth Protection - Our earth is getting hot day after day. This is the solution to protect our earth. There are 3R (Re-use Reduce and Recycle)--Save water, Save energy, Stop pollution, Save animal, Don't cut trees, plant trees, and Say No to plastic. This is our solution to protect our earth." - Sengleap, 16, Cambodia