Peace, Let’s Be Friends!
7,810 children and youth from 61 countries drew “My Peace Story”
Hosted by IWPG · 2026 · 37 final award-winning works
Overview
The International Loving-Peace Art Competition offers children and youth an opportunity to engrave in their hearts the hope for war to end and peace to come, to envision a peaceful world of the future through their own drawings, and to bring the value of peace into their daily lives. In particular, the theme of the 8th competition, “My Peace Story” invites participants to discover peace within themselves and their everyday lives, and to recognize that they, too, have a role in creating peace. This year, a total of 7,810 children and youth from 61 countries took part in the competition, discovering ways to create peace in their everyday lives and expressing those ideas through diverse lines and colors.
Since its founding in 2013, the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) has been devoted to spreading a culture of peace to achieve world peace and the cessation of war. As part of this effort, the International Loving-Peace Art Competition, launched in 2018, has become a global platform where children and youth around the world communicate through art and grow as active advocates of peace.
Details of the Event
- Event Name
- 8th International Loving-Peace Art Competition
- Subtitle
- Peace, Let’s Be Friends!
- Theme
- My Peace Story
- Hosted by
- International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG)
- Division (Age)
- D1 7–9 · D2 10–12 · D3 13–15 · D4 16–18
Results
- Countries
- 61
- Participants
- 7,810
- Entries
- 5,240
- Award-Winning Works
- 1 Grand Prize, 4 Gold, 8 Silver, 8 Bronze, 16 Honorable Mention (37 in total)
- Final Judges
- Jeong Ki Chang, Kani Alavi
Greetings
Peace Begins in Our Ordinary Moments
Dear peace-loving friends, and especially the children and young people at the heart of this art brochure, it is wonderful to share this special collection of peace stories with you. When we take a closer look at our everyday lives, we find that peace is often closer than we think. It begins in our ordinary moments—laughing with family, exchanging kind words with friends, reaching out to others first, or making up after an argument.
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The theme of this year’s International Loving-Peace Art Competition was “My Peace Story.” The artworks gathered from around the world reflect the peace each participant discovered in their own lives. From family and friends to harmony with nature, and hopes for a world free of war and violence—every drawing tells a different story of peace.
The places we live, the languages we speak, and the experiences we carry may be different, but the hopes within these artworks are deeply connected: the wish to live safely with loved ones, and to live happily together while respecting one another.
One story of peace meets another and creates a greater resonance. When a single drawing touches someone’s heart and leads to a new idea or a small act of peace, peace moves beyond individual hope and becomes a culture we build together.
I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the judges, teachers, parents, and all IWPG members and staff around the world who helped bring these precious stories to the world. Above all, I sincerely thank all the children and youth who shared the peace within their everyday lives and their hearts through art.
May the stories of peace that began with your drawings continue in the hearts of everyone who opens this catalogue. And may these stories, as they connect and grow, help make our everyday lives and the world a little more peaceful. Thank you.
President Na-yeong Jeon, International Women’s Peace Group
“Peace can begin with a small whisper of love and understanding.”— Chananya Thongthoi, Thailand
Interview with the Final Judges
The 8th International Loving-Peace Art Competition brought together children and youth from around the world, each expressing their own thoughts and experiences of peace through a single work of art. Here, the judges share their reflections on the children’s perspectives, expressions, and the messages of peace conveyed through their works.
What does “peace” look like through the eyes of children?
Jeong Ki ChangTo create a meaningful work of art, children first need to ask themselves, ‘What is peace?’ and ‘What kind of feelings do I want to express through my picture?’ Even children who may normally have a rough or negative disposition can, through engaging with and expressing a theme like this, naturally begin to think about peace and positive values. In that sense, I believe it is truly meaningful that this contest has continued for eight years. I hope the children and young people who participated this year will continue to express peace in their own unique ways and through their own perspectives.
Kani AlaviSome of the works reflect sad realities, but at the same time, I can also see very positive changes. I believe that the act of expressing peace through art, and making an effort for peace through that process, is itself deeply meaningful and can have a positive influence. I hope more children and young people will take the time to think about peace and develop their own ideas. I would like them to reflect on what peace means within the family, among friends, and even with people they do not know, and then express those ideas freely through painting and art. First of all, we need to be able to clearly show and communicate what peace means. Otherwise, war and conflict will continue.
“Peace begins with me and from our home, spreading into beautiful stories shared with neighbors.”— Fakhirah Shakila Siregar, Indonesia
Award-Winning Works Gallery
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Title
‘From Love's Whisper to a World of Peace’
Description
This artwork is a traditional Thai painting showing that peace can begin with small whispers of love and understanding.
Gold
4Read description
Children of different appearances and backgrounds show that diversity is something to respect and celebrate, not fear. Holding hands, they remind us that we all share the future. Peace begins with small acts of kindness, understanding, friendship, and respect.
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My peace story is about folding little paper doves and then letting them go.
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The devastated landscape symbolizes crisis and anxiety, while the thorns represent pain and obstacles. The girl looks toward the dove, moving toward peace and a new beginning. Life among the thorns shows that hope can bloom even in hardship.
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This artwork expresses a wish for a world filled with love, peace, and harmony. The children, nature, and white dove surrounding the Earth symbolize coexistence and harmony among all living things. It shares the message that regardless of our different backgrounds, we can build a peaceful world together if we choose love, respect, and kindness.
Silver
8Read description
A little girl is giving rescue breaths and chest compressions to a dove. Help bring peace everywhere! She is saving a fragile creature: world peace. I wanted to show that every person in the world, even a little girl like me, can help save world peace, but only if they awaken their better self.
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My artwork shows how I can help foster peace through small acts of kindness toward people around me.
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There are people in the world losing hope amidst hunger and sorrow. However, we must never stop taking steps toward hope. Hope is what brings peace and serves as the greatest strength in creating a peaceful world.
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What people of different skin colors and languages all wish for is happiness and peace. Because that wish is the same in everyone's heart, I hope that we respect each other and unite in love.
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Even in the midst of war, all children share the same wish to live and get along freely in a safe world. Through this artwork, I wanted to show that peace begins from the small act of sharing a warm meal together, transcending nationality, culture, and religion.
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Children are the future of a nation. In the artwork, the girl represents hope, love, and peace; the dove in her hands symbolizes peace; and the flags in the background signify harmony and unity among nations. We must teach children to love and respect one another and learn to live together in peace.
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This artwork shows how peace begins with one person and spreads throughout the world through kindness and generosity. Loving, helping, understanding, and respecting one another makes our peace even stronger. Peace starts with me.
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The purity and vibrancy of children heal and overshadow the scars of war.
Bronze
8Read description
When I traveled to the sea before, I saw a lot of trash discarded on the beach and in the ocean. The living environment for marine life is getting worse, and some large marine creatures are becoming difficult to find. I hope that humans, nature, and animals can live together in harmony.
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I drew this thinking of peace and love, hoping that the dove would bring peace to the world.
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The white dove carrying a message of peace symbolizes hope and freedom. People of different cultures and backgrounds surrounding the Earth show that despite our differences, we all belong to one world. The artwork envisions a peaceful world where everyone lives together with love, harmony, and respect.
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World peace is not far away. Peace begins with me and from our home, spreading into beautiful stories shared with neighbors. When no one faces discrimination and everyone unites, the world will become even more peaceful.
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This artwork portrays the story of a woman in need of peace and children longing for happiness. It carries a sincere wish that someday they, too, may enjoy the peace and happiness they yearn for.
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Two women from different backgrounds hold hands, weaving a tapestry of harmony and solidarity using colorful threads. Embedded within are children playing in vibrant green fields alongside a lush tree symbolizing diversity. This artwork depicts a free and peaceful world built collectively as diverse people come together as one.
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The dove, a symbol of peace, sacrifices its own life and blood to protect and rescue the world from the dangers and attacks of war. I wanted to express empathy for the tears and pain of those suffering from war. Through this artwork, I hope people realize that love is the foundation of peace.
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World peace begins with the most basic human emotion: love. And what love could be purer than a mother's love, which gives us a sense of safety, protection and peace of mind? Each of us needs a mother's love so that we can build a calm world, free of war and conflict
Honorable Mention
16Read description
In this vast world, differences between us are not barriers. World peace begins to sprout through a child's smile, mutual caring, and small moments like playing soccer together. Living in harmony and practicing small acts of kindness connect the world as one.
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My father is Thai and my mother is Cambodian. Although I felt sad about the recent conflict between the two countries, thanks to the love of my parents, teachers, and school friends, I can still live peacefully.
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The children in the painting are working together to achieve peace. This artwork imagines everyone becoming one.
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The UN symbol and national flags express a united world of peace, while the dove and children show care and love for one another to protect peace. I hope small actions of all who strive for peace will bloom into a flower of peace.
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I grew up riding horses and feeling the peace of my homeland, Mongolia. When my younger sibling was ill, I rode my chestnut horse and used its warm bit to help them recover. My beloved horse is my closest and most precious friend, bringing comfort to my heart.
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A woman embracing the Earth expresses love and care for all people and nations across the world. Her serene expression and the bird soaring in the sky symbolize that everyone can live peacefully together.
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We come from different countries and have different cultures, but we all belong to one world. Through this artwork, I wanted to express my hope that children and people everywhere will not be divided, but live together based on love, friendship, and understanding.
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The boy in this artwork earnestly DREAMS of world peace. To make peace bloom in our world, we must take steps forward together. Even if a single drawing cannot change the world right away, I want to remind everyone why we must never give up on unity.
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War takes countless lives, creates refugees, and leaves deep scars on people’s hearts and lives. It destroys homes, schools, hospitals, and communities. War and violence must never be tolerated. We call on the international community to end war and build a world where children can live in peace.
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Peace is not a flat point; rather, it is a vertical journey fraught with struggle to ascend beyond darkness. In a barren place littered with the debris of conflict, we chose not to remain passive. We build ladders of knowledge and bridges of tolerance to step beyond the sad reality toward the Tree of Peace.
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I never want to live through the fear of war! The fear of losing someone I love! Losing a loved one in war is the worst thing of all. The picture represents the effects war may have on families and the soul.
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The world scarred by war and conflict is represented as puzzle pieces, carrying the message of piecing them back together into one unified world.
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I realized that loving and caring for myself has a positive influence on others as well. Only when I first cultivate happiness, inner peace, and kindness can I help others experience peace. I believe that even small actions hold the power to transform the world.
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World peace begins not on a giant map, but in the hearts of people who embrace one another. Within the human silhouette are actions of environmental care, helping others, and living in harmony. Like book pages transforming into dove wings, peace is not a distant dream, but a heartfelt reality created through small daily acts of kindness and action.
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I dream of a world where every child can learn, play, and pursue their dreams without fear. For me, peace is a world where safety, happiness, and equal opportunities are ensured so that everyone can build a better future.
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The child’s face reflects determination and a vision for world peace. The deep skin tone and different eye colors represent cultural identity and global solidarity. Placing the child at the center shows that peace begins with people and grows into a wider world, just as a child grows.
Our Peace Story in Photos
Competition sites around the world
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