Around the world, many people — including refugees and families who have moved or rebuilt their lives — know how important shelter and a sense of home and belonging can be.

ADRA works alongside communities worldwide to support people affected by poverty, displacement, and crisis — always with dignity, care, and respect.

This art contest reflects ADRA’s values of:

• compassion
• justice
• hospitality
• community
• hope

without focusing on politics or distressing imagery.

In addition to personal engagement and interaction with refugees, we highly recommend online teaching resources about refugees, migrants and internally displaced people. The UN agency for refugees (UNHCR)  developed the material for age groups (6 – 9, 9 – 12, 12 -15, 15 – 18 years). Link to resource page here.

Video reports and materials from previous years are available here.

WHO are refugees?

Refugees are people who have fled climate disasters, war, violence, conflict or persecution and have crossed an international border to find safety in another country.  They often have had to flee with little more than the clothes on their back, leaving behind homes, possessions, jobs and loved ones. 

These journeys, which all start with the hope for a better future, can also be full of danger and fear. Some people risk falling prey to human trafficking and other forms of exploitation. Some are detained by the authorities as soon as they arrive in a new country. Once they’re settling in and start building a new life, many face daily racism, xenophobia and discrimination. Some people end up feeling alone and isolated because they have lost the support networks that most of us take for granted – our communities, colleagues, relatives and friends.