DONATE

Junior Painter 2023: students’ ‘phenomenal’ artwork commended

July 2023
Junior Painter award-winner Lauren shows off her framed artwork.
Lauren from County Wexford was the competition’s overall winner in 2023 with her artwork ‘How to make the world a better place’.

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.”

in Bangladesh, two women stand with their arms round each other outside their home.

What are the SDGs?

The Sustainable Development Goals aim to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for everyone by 2030.

About the SDGs

Read all our latest news stories

News from Sightsavers
Two young girls talk to each other in a playground. One of the girls has a physical disability and is using a wheelchair.

Global Disability Summit 2025: Sightsavers calls for stronger commitment to inclusion

Sightsavers will host two events and two exhibition spaces at the event in Berlin on 2-3 April, calling on attendees to join us in targeting inequality.

March 2025
Minahil, who wears spectacles, smiles broadly as she sits at her classroom desk.

Sightsavers at the CIES education conference 2025

We’re attending the conference in Chicago on 22-26 March to share Sightsavers’ expertise, engage with the education community and explore how we can help to transform inclusive education.

March 2025
Sightsavers’ programme officer Salome Njeri Mbugua-Mutua receives the award on stage alongside two academy instructors.

Sightsavers’ IT Bridge Academy wins top-performing academy award

The IT Bridge Academy, which supports young people with disabilities to train for a career in IT, received the accolade from technology company Cisco.

February 2025