UNIQLO’S SUPPORT TO REFUGEES
AND OTHERS FORCED FROM HOME

YOUTH WITH REFUGEES
ART CONTEST 2023

Your artistic sensibility has the power to change the world.
Take action to support refugees with art.

The Youth with Refugees Art Contest, established by UNHCR in 2020, is open to anyone ages 10 to 30. Its aim is to share with the world the talents of children and young people who represent the next generation, serving as a forum to share their thoughts and feelings in support for refugees through works of art. As UNIQLO is the co-organizer for this third contest in 2023, the five winning designs will be printed on T-shirts and sold through selected UNIQLO locations in Japan and worldwide. In addition to 100,000 USD donated by Uniqlo*, for each purchase of a T-shirt from the collection, we will donate 3USD* to UNHCR to support people forced to flee.

*Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., the parent company of UNIQLO, will make the donation to UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency engaged in international activities to protect people forced to flee because of conflict and persecution.

Encouraging people who have fled their homes to find hope.
The theme for the 2023 contest is “HOPE AWAY FROM HOME”

This contest sheds light on the power of inclusion; for people to be part of the communities where they have found refugee. To be welcomed and accepted into the new community is an essential element for them to find hope, and to rebuild their lives. Meeting new friends, having a place to learn, reuniting with family, and finding work.
We called for for drawings and artworks that represent and support the inclusion of refugees in society.

Winners

UNIQLO is co-organizing the Youth with Refugees Art Contest 2023 with UNHCR.
Over 4,000 young artists from refugee and host communities joined the art contest worldwide.
The winners who were selected by UNHCR and UNIQLO can be found here.
The T-shirt collection was unveiled at UNHCR HQs in Geneva during the Global Refugee Forum 2023, which took place in December.

Asifiwe, 14,
Burundi/USA

“Friend code”

"My drawing is a picture of my friend group from when I lived in Burundi. We all follow our friend code that says: ‘My friend squad comes first and nobody can break us apart.’ My friends are a source of strength and hope for me. We may be separate but I am sure we're together in heart and that our memories will continue to live on.”

Afya, 14,
USA

“A little love from home”

"The heart-shaped paper airplane is from someone important. When someone receives it on the other side of the globe, they will be hopeful and optimistic as a result of getting a little love while being away from home."

Virag, 28,
Hungary

“Wings of hope”

"Having met many inspiring asylum-seekers and refugees, I know how important ‘hope away from home’ is to rebuild one's life in a new environment. My drawing aims to express the act of chasing this hope, and the heart symbolizes that it is very much possible to follow your dreams, even if you are far away from home."

Georgette, 14,
Tanzania/DRC

“One moon”

“The sky and moon symbolize protection and unity. Despite our differences, we are all under the sky and share one moon, it doesn’t matter where you are, there is only one moon, and you are protected by the sky. I want to be a president because I believe I will have the power to make decisions that will not hurt people; power to end wars in the world.”

Mawardi, 20,
Somalia/Ethiopia

“Birds from home”

“I remember the beautiful birds in my home country in the beautiful green forest. My hope is to see these birds again in the future, whether in my home country or somewhere else.”

Available at select UNIQLO stores with UTme!

(Japanese only)