Junior Painter 2023: students’ ‘phenomenal’ artwork commended

Finalists in Sightsavers Ireland’s Junior Painter of the Year competition have been celebrating their prizewinning artwork at an awards ceremony in Dublin.

The annual competition invites primary school children across the country to create an art piece that shows their understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how the global goals can help people with disabilities to be included in society. Sightsavers Ireland received more than 150 entries, from which 27 winners were selected across four categories.

This year’s overall national winner was Lauren from Enniscorthy, County Wexford. Her piece entitled ‘How to make the world a better place’ was inspired by the social stigma and discrimination people with disabilities often face when claiming their human rights.

Lauren was awarded a Samsung A8 tablet and a ReCreate Ireland art workshop and annual ReCreate membership for her school. On receiving her prize, she expressed that everyone is a valuable member of the global community and said “if you can do just one thing, you’re needed by someone”.

Sightsavers Ireland’s CEO Ciara Smullen said: “The level of entries the Junior Painter of the Year continues to receive is phenomenal. It’s one of the most popular campaigns in our events calendar. Engaging young people at primary school about the SDGs and seeing their perspectives on the world through vibrant art is what makes the event so special. Congratulations to the winners, and well done to all the 2023 participants.”