PIONEER 
by Leah, 14-16, USA

For this piece, I was inspired by my voice. Many refer to my voice as soft and quiet, so I wanted to create an oil painting that depicted me as the opposite, shouting. In relation to the theme,we can prevent future wars by speaking out and using our words rather than our weapons. Wars are often caused from a dispute over ideas, so by solving these ideas, we can reach a new state of peace throughout nations.

THE ECHOES OF REFORMATION
by Heather, 16-18, Canada

My subject matter is about all women and girls in Afghanistan as they have been oppressed and denied fundamental human rights or freedom, which includes education, work, movement, and even clothing.

After the United States left Afghanistan in 2021, killing over 176,000 Afghans and 67,000 in Pakistan, the people were left without security. Thus, the Taliban came into power in August 2021, which led to women and girls having their rights systematically and legally stripped away. Taliban edicts “have denied girls from getting an education beyond the sixth grade and banned women from working for nongovernmental organizations,” but now women don't even have the right to “decide when to go and buy groceries” (Penn, 2024). These laws had only grown harsher over the years, as they banned women “from hearing one another’s voices and severing one of their last means of connection [as an Afghan minister said that] a woman’s voice is considered awrah… shouldn’t be heard in public, even by other women (Moaven 2024).

Hence with a surge of interest, I wish to further bring awareness and attention to allow their voice to be heard, while preventing future wars and demonstrating the consequences of conflicts.

THE PAST CAN SAVE THE FUTURE
by Jane, 16-18, South Korea

“Can the dead save the living? Can the past help the present?” Inspired by Nobel Prize-winning author Han Kang’s words, my artwork explores the power of history in preventing future wars. It portrays a girl reading a history book, its pages revealing two contrasting realities—one filled with the tragic destruction of war, the other showing a peaceful democratic movement. History is more than just a record of the past—it is both a warning and a guide. By learning from past mistakes, individuals and leaders alike can make wiser choices. True peace begins with education, guiding us forward to ensure that war remains in the past, never the future.

“The past can save the future”

ONE FLAG, ONE FUTURE
by Yunnie, 14-16, South Korea

As a student attending an international school that follows the American education system, I am learning the processes to enter American universities and dreaming of a future where I study with friends from more diverse countries. If war does not stand in our way, I believe we can all peacefully create a flag of one nation together.

NAPALM GIRL
by Diana, 16-18, Russia

The photo, which finished the war. That’s what we usually hear about the famous picture of Kim Phook. In the photo, we can see the emaciated, 13-year-old, naked, Vietnamese girl. Her village has just been destroyed by napalm bombs. Miraculously she survived. In the photo, she is following the road and shouting. Her thin body is harmed, and she has third-degree burns. 

STEP INTO PEACE
by Sulamita, 14-16, USA

“Step Into Peace” is inspired by the war in Ukraine, which I lived through and desperately want to end. The girl on the horse is me, carrying my culture, history, and hope forward as I step away from the destruction of war toward peace. My painting answers the question How can we prevent future wars? by showing the contrast between war and hope. The bombed buildings, warplanes, and helicopters show what war destroys, while the sunflowers, storks, and traditional symbols represent everything worth protecting. I believe we can stop future wars by holding on to who we are, fighting for peace, and never letting war become normal.

IN SYNC
by Abby, 11-14, Australia

Hi, I’m Abby, a 12-year-old artist. My painting In Sync explores coexistence—not just between humans and nature, but between people themselves. The girl represents humanity, reaching out to the bison, a symbol of the wild. Their quiet connection reflects the possibility of a world where trust, respect, and understanding replace conflict.  

The girl in the portrait is Native American, symbolising the deep cultural and spiritual ties Indigenous peoples have with the land and its creatures. For many Native American tribes, the bison represents strength, resilience, and balance—values that can also guide humanity in preventing war. 

THE GLOW IN THE SEALED WALL
by Leanor, 11-14, Portugal

I drew and used collages

In Portuguese :

O princípio desta obra reside no seu fulgor subentendido, presente nas entrelinhas da apatia e da vigarice. Ao longo da composição, é possível observar a perspectiva da figura superior. Ela é o sistema, uma ordem superior que tende a reprimir a inovação. Este oprime, de forma discreta, a tentativa da reforma do pensar. Coloquei, sobre a quebra da suposta paz, uma flor. Aos olhos do indivíduo que suprime, está será eternamente a flor mais formosa que já vira, todavia, à pessoa inferior,

In English:

The principle of this work lies in its implied brilliance, present between the lines of apathy and deceit. Throughout the composition, it is possible to observe the perspective of the superior figure. It is the system, a superior order that tends to repress innovation. This oppresses, discreetly, the attempt to reform thinking. I placed, over the break in the supposed peace, a flower. In the eyes of the individual who suppresses it, this will forever be the most beautiful flower he has ever seen, however, to the inferior person,

FREE WOMEN
by Musab, 16-18, Libya

The phrase "free women" can be interpreted in various ways, often symbolizing the liberation and empowerment of women across different societies and contexts. It highlights the ongoing struggle for gender equality, where women seek freedom from societal constraints, economic dependence, and discrimination. This movement encompasses diverse issues such as access to education, reproductive rights, equal pay, and the ability to make personal choices without fear of judgment or violence. The journey toward true freedom for women involves dismantling patriarchal structures and fostering a world where women can thrive as equal participants in all spheres of life. As more voices join the conversation, the vision of a world where all women are free becomes increasingly attainable.

A CHILDHOOD OF KINDNESS, A FUTURE OF PEACE
by Milana, 16-18, Uzbekistan

This painting states a powerful truth: the path to a peaceful future begins with the way we raise our children today. A young girl stands between two worlds—one flourishing with life, the other consumed by war. She holds a radiant light, a symbol of kindness, hope, and innocence. This light is not just a fragile glow; it is a force strong enough to push back against darkness, proving that love and compassion can overcome destruction. The stark contrast between the two sides highlights a crucial message: war is not inevitable. It is the result of choices, and those choices begin in childhood. If we raise children with love instead of hatred, with understanding instead of fear, they will grow into adults who build bridges, not battlefields. The green, vibrant side of the painting is a vision of what the world can become if we raise children in kindness—free from violence, filled with unity. This painting urges us to invest in the next generation, to teach them peace through our actions, our words, and our love. Because a childhood shaped by kindness creates not just a better future—but a future without war.

WHEN PRIORITIES FAIL
by Emily, 14-16, USA

"When Priorities Fail" is a haunting reflection on the devastation caused by misplaced priorities in times of war. A distressed child, draped in red, loses her innocence amid violence and greed, while riches—the material interests that so often fuel conflict—loom grimly in the background. The pursuit of wealth and power at the expense of human suffering leads to a world where the most vulnerable pay the highest price. This piece serves as a powerful reminder that the choices we make—both as individuals and as societies—shape the future. As we reevaluate what we value most, where will we choose to shine the spotlight of our attention?

HOW NURTURING ENVIRONMENTS FORGE A PEACEFUL FUTURE
by Kim, 16-18, South Korea

When I was faced with this topic, I was thinking about how would I make this simple and powerful? and after a lot of thinking, I decided to make a piece of a baby's "Doljanchi", which is a Korean tradition where a baby is set with a table of various symbolic objects—each representing different aspects of life, such as wealth, intelligence, or career paths. For instance, if the baby picks a pen, it might be interpreted as a sign of future academic success. I used this element and had the baby choose the options of objects that symbolizes war, (guns, grenades, knife, etc) or a olive branch that symbolizes peace. I wanted to give a message that in order to prevent war, people should educate their kids and encourage them to promote a peaceful society.

BLOOMS FROM ASHES
by Ella, 14-16, Canada

I wanted to highlight how wars impact the lives of millions. The best way we can prevent wars is to look at how it affects us, not our economy, but the lives being loss to useless bloodshed. The woman in this painting is someone who has lost everything, she places a flower in hope for growth and peace. The types of flowers shown, the single lily which she placed, and the poppy’s that have grown represent peace and those she’s lost. The woman in the painting has faced extreme loss shown by the ‘blood’ on her clothes and the tears in her eyes. However through the colours she wears, and the flower she placed she wishes for happiness as well as a better future for all. Once we feel a loss like this we would never want wish it on anyone, it's a terrible feeling and once the leaders of countries understand that economies and more land is not as important as the lives of theirs citizens only then can we try to prevent wars.

WORLD IN OUR WINGS
by Stace, 14-16, USA

This piece was made with acrylic paints. This is a self portrait that I made to convey a simple message: with community we are stronger. And by banding together we can keep our seemingly crumbling planet together. Whether to protest against war to nurse our planet back to help. We will be the ones to bring our world to justice.

THE ECHOES OF WAS AND WHISPERS OF PEACE
by Sophia, 14-16, Canada

My inspiration for this piece arose from one of my mother's stories about the past that she would tell me when I was younger. Through the greys used to depict the battlefield, I wanted to show that war is not black-and-white, but rather a thousand different shades of grey. There are always two sides to a story; in the real world, there is no definite epitome of right or wrong. That was the moral of the story my mother told me, and I hope to express the message through my artwork.

MY BLUE BIRD
by Alexis, 14-16, USA

My inspiration was, we should stop seeing in black and white and start seeing out side of the box or what we consider the norm. This picture portrays a black and white women, you wouldn't expect blue in it would you? Her hand rests for the bird to land she look hopeful but we never truly know if that bird landed. As the bird is her inner self, confident, quirks, and personality. As you look at her hair it's neat but some specks of hair falls out of place, coming out of the norm around her is darkness expect for the small light that's beneath your hand. Once, or if that bird lands she will truly ne herself and not be seen at average or the norm but a confident outspoken lady.

A YEARNING
by Olivia, 11-14, USA

I recently watched a show about the Korean War with my mom that focused on families clinging to the hope of finding their loved ones who went off to war.  One particularly touching story was about a grandmother who never repaired her shabby door, fearing her son wouldn't recognize the house if he ever returned. She kept this vigil until she died at 105. More than 70 years ago, the Korean War happened and brought so many heartbreaking stories to families. The war had divided North and South Korea, and many elderly people passed away without reuniting with their loved ones. Through the expression of the elderly's face, I wanted to convey the deep sorrow and longing of those who were separated from their families because of the war.