UNESCO's Art Contest, "My School Protects Me"

In preparation of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2019, UNESCO organised and launched the global Art Contest, "My School Protects Me" in June 2019. This Contest aims to generate awareness and a culture of resilience within children's and young people's minds.

This Contest is placed in the specific context of this year's celebrations of Target D of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-20330 which relates to critical infrastructure, notably learning facilities. It is also aligned with the Education 2030 agenda, notably Sustainable Development Goal 4 and Target 4.a, which calls for providing "safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all". 

The schools that are part of the UNESCO's Associated Schools Network (ASPnet) have therefore been mobilised to encourage teachers and students to reflect about the role that school infrastructure plays in protecting its users from natural hazards and related extreme events. 

With the Art Contest, the voice and perspective of children and young people on their relation with their own school will be an invaluable contribution to discussions and efforts at local, national and international levels for making schools safer and more resilient.

The winning submissions will be announced in the occasion of a UNESCO's event organised in the framework of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2019, on Wednesday 16 October 2019.