Seoul, Nov 25 (V7N)- The International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG), chaired by Hyun Sook Yoon, held the final award ceremony for the 6th International Loving-Peace Art Competition online. With 800 participants, including winners, parents, and IWPG staff, the event featured simultaneous interpretation in 11 languages, including Spanish and Korean.

This year’s competition revolved around the theme, “A heart of peace conveyed to friends suffering from war,” attracting participation from 23,000 youth across 130 cities in 53 countries.

Awards and Recognition

A total of 112 awards were presented, including:

  • 1 Grand Prize
  • 12 Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals across divisions
  • 20 Awards of Recognition
  • Several Participation Awards

The Grand Prize, which included a 1,000,000 KRW scholarship, was awarded to Paola Andrea from Colombia, a 9th grader at Carlos Leon Gomez School. She explained her artwork: “I wanted to represent hope in the girl's hair as clouds symbolizing the sky. The heart signifies that everyone can contribute to achieving world peace.”

The total scholarship prize amount for the competition was 5,000,000 KRW.

Judging and Feedback

Head judge Shona Hammond Boys praised the entries for their effort and creativity, noting, “The large range of works reflects the diversity of children’s art experiences across countries.” Soon Nam Park, Chairwoman of the Korean Japanese Art Exhibition, highlighted the strong messages of peace conveyed in the drawings, adding, “I was happy to see so many young people desiring peace.”

Chairwoman’s Address

IWPG Chairwoman Hyun Sook Yoon emphasized the role of women in spreading peace: “Women, as the main teachers in households and half the world’s population, must unite to ensure peace takes root globally. I invite women worldwide to join IWPG in establishing a culture of peace.”

Follow-Up Initiatives

The competition included follow-up activities in 20 cities in South Korea, such as mentor-mentee programs and co-exhibitions with established artists under the theme “The Exchange of Peace Outlooks Transcending Generations.” These efforts garnered community support and helped identify regional talent.

IWPG also secured 70 new Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with civil society organizations, NGOs, corporations, and media, furthering its mission to promote peace culture and nurture young talent.

About IWPG

The IWPG is an international NGO registered with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Department of Global Communications (DGC). Active in 122 countries with 114 branches and 730 partner organizations, IWPG focuses on fostering a culture of peace, promoting women’s peace education, and supporting the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) under its vision of achieving sustainable world peace.

The International Loving-Peace Art Competition, launched in 2018, continues to inspire children and youth worldwide to imagine a peaceful future and express their hopes through art.

END/PR/AJ