By Tohura Khatun Lily from Rajshahi
A drawing competition titled “Let’s Paint My Dream City” was organized in Namovodra, Rajshahi, to encourage children’s creativity and provide them with an opportunity to express their vision of an ideal city through art.
Children aged 5–12 enthusiastically participated in the event, jointly organized by Namovodra Homeless Comprehensive Development Organization, Barendra Youth Forum, Relation Social Welfare Organization, and BARCIK. Using colours and brushes, the children portrayed their dreams of a clean, green, safe and livable city.
Their drawings reflected a strong desire for more trees and greenery, clean surroundings, wider roads, playgrounds, rivers and safe spaces for children and pedestrians. The artworks showed that children aspire to live in a city that is environmentally friendly, secure and inclusive.
The organizers said that listening to children’s ideas is important for creating child-friendly and inclusive cities. Such activities nurture creativity and confidence and strengthen children’s civic awareness and encourage them to think about urban development.
Children from marginalized communities, in particular, can benefit from such initiatives as they provide opportunities to develop their talents and express their views. Their dreams can also contribute valuable perspectives to future urban planning.
BARCIK representatives Tohura Khatun Lily and Upen Rabidas, along with members of the organizing groups, attended the event and encouraged the participants. The organizers expressed their intention to arrange similar activities in the future so that marginalized children can continue to share their visions of a green, clean, safe and livable city.