Top prize in WHO art competition won by 15-year-old Palestinian refugee – UNRWA press release

Fifteen-year-old Palestine refugee wins top prize in WHO art competition

13 June 2012, East Jerusalem, West Bank — Fifteen-year-old Sundus Raed Afreeky, a Palestine refugee from Arroub camp in the West Bank, was awarded a top prize in a World Health Day art competition held by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The award was presented today at an event in the Hebron area, held in partnership with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

More than 1000 schoolchildren from 14 countries across the Eastern Mediterranean region submitted drawings on the World Health Day theme for 2012: “Ageing and health: good health adds life to years.” Out of submissions from her age group, Sundus ranked first.

A student at UNRWA’s Basic School for Girls in Arroub, Sundus was thrilled to receive the award. Her art, she explains, was inspired by her life growing up in a refugee camp. “My drawing was of an elderly man, in the form of a rooted tree, as a source of life branching its fruit onto the community.”

Attended by many community members, the award ceremony was co-presented by Dr. Umaya Khammash from UNRWA’s health programme, and Dr. Tasneem Atatrah from WHO’s office in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The celebration also included a film screening about UNRWA’s contributions to Palestine refugee health, dabkeh dance, and performances.