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Art competition illustrates safer access

From 8 to 10 December 2015, the Safer Access team held an art competition for National Societies attending the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva. We asked National Society staff and volunteers to show us what safer access meant to them and the people they serve. Twenty-eight artists from a diverse range of National Societies entered the competition, depicting the specific challenges their staff and volunteers face.

The entries were viewed and appreciated by hundreds of conference attendees, and more than 150 people voted for their favourite artwork.

The most votes went to Abraham Adeyemo Adedayo of the Nigerian Red Cross Society for his drawing showing the environment of violence some local volunteers face while carrying out their humanitarian work. Abraham is a member of the Nigerian Red Cross, University of Ibadan detachment, and studies veterinary medicine at the University of Ibadan.

Abraham Adeyemo Adedayo's winning entry. © Nigerian Red Cross Society

The runner-up was Jean-Guy Mavitidi Kuntuala of the Red Cross Society of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Jean-Guy submitted two artworks that blended ideas from the Safer Access Framework with a depiction of how the Fundamental Principles are put into practice to provide humanitarian first aid. Jean-Guy has been a Red Cross volunteer since 1996 and is a graphic designer for his National Society's bulletin "Solferino".

Jean-Guy Mavitidi Kuntuala's entry, which received second prize. CC BY-NC-ND/ICRC/Safer Access

The third prize went to Basil Flayes of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. Basil submitted a series of four paintings showing the compassion of the humanitarian services provided by volunteers. He is a volunteer at the Aleppo branch and a graduate of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts in Aleppo, where he works as an illustration teacher.

Basil Flayes's entry, which received third prize. CC BY-NC-ND/ICRC/Safer Access

Congratulations to the winning artists and our sincere thanks to everyone who submitted their work for display.