COMPETITIONS
AOH Sexual Health Global Competition
( International )
In 2022, The Art of Health launched its first-ever global art competition, partnering with the International Union Against STIs (IUSTI) to amplify voices on sexual health ahead of the 2023 STI & HIV World Congress. Artists, activists, and storytellers worldwide submitted 357 powerful entries from 18 countries, using painting, photography, and digital art to challenge stigma and reimagine sexual wellbeing.
Winning pieces were showcased at the Congress, sparking dialogue among policymakers and health experts. Submissions ranged from raw personal narratives to bold advocacy pieces, all united by a call for education, equity, and empowerment around sexual health. This competition set the stage for future initiatives, proving that creativity is a universal language for change in health education and advocacy.
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Ideal Urban Future Climate Competition
( International )
Teaming up with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) Centre for Climate Change, this competition challenged young creatives (13–35) to visualize how climate change impacts health—and how cities can adapt. 162 submissions from 36 countries offered stunning solutions: green urban designs, community-led resilience projects, and dystopian warnings.
Winning works were featured in LSHTM’s climate exhibitions and digital campaigns, reaching policymakers and educators. From Lagos to Lima, participants proved that the fight for planetary health is also a fight for human wellbeing.
Art Over Addiction Competition
( Nigeria )
This Nigeria-focused project harnessed art and spoken word to confront substance abuse, with 378 submissions unpacking root causes (poverty, trauma) and solutions (community support, policy reform). Partnering with local rehab centers and artists, the competition also included community school campaigns. The submissions, from pen art to poetry were raw, hopeful, and unflinchingly honest about substance abuse among adolescents in Nigeria.
Art for Wellbeing Global Competition
( International )
In collaboration with PMNCH, The Art of Health mobilized youth (15–24) to define wellbeing through art for the 2023 Global Forum for Adolescents (GFA). The response was extraordinary: 1,428 submissions from 28 countries, each reflecting unique cultural perspectives on mental health, safety, and hope.
Selected works were displayed at the GFA, where world leaders engaged with young artists’ visions for a healthier future. Themes ranged from resilience in crisis to the joy of community, all captured in mediums like illustration, poetry, and short films. Partnerships with youth networks and NGOs ensured marginalized voices were heard, while social media campaigns amplified key messages.
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MWEDZI Menstrual Health Competition
( Zimbabwe )
MWEDZI (“moon cycle” in Shona) combined art and activism to end period stigma, with 348 submissions depicting Zimbabwean women’s diverse experiences. Partnering with Dr Mandi Tembo(PHD), we paired the competition with a national pad-drive campaign, donating supplies to underserved schools in Mbire district. Winning artworks were featured in a Harare gallery exhibit attended by young women an health researchers, sparking conversations on menstrual equity. The pieces celebrated resilience while demanding accessible hygiene products and education.
AOH National Competition
( Zimbabwe )
This competition was our national pilot which invited Zimbabwean youth to express health struggles through art, music, drama, and design. The result? 1,153 submissions on issues from HIV stigma to mental health, curated into a traveling exhibition. Finalists received mentorship from stars like Gemma Griffiths (musician) and Joe Njagu (filmmaker), blending artistry with activism. The competition’s success laid the foundation for later global projects.
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AOH Community competitions
In 2020, the Art of Health held health-themed art competitions in three communities in Zimbabwe; Hatcliffe (Harare), Hopley (Mashonaland East) and Pelandaba (Bulawayo). Tese pilot competitions allowed The Art of Health to assess how yung people felth about expressing health and wellbeing issues through the creative arts and paved the way for scaling the Art of Health activities
Heating Up Competition
The Art of Health Heating Up competition was the second collaboration between the Art of Health and Children, Cities and Climate project teams, after the Art Of Health Breathe In competition. Young people living in Zimbabwe's cities were asked to show through art or photography how their life and health have been affected by heat, heatwaves or drought, and to show the benefits that climate action can bring to their health and well-being.
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BREATHE IN competition
The BREATHE IN Competition in partnership with the Children, Cities and Climate (CCC) project under The Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health (LSHTM) asked young people to explore, through music and design, what they believe are the benefits that clean air could bring to the health and well-being of young people in Zimbabwe.Winning entries were presented to global audiences at the Conference of Youth (COY16) which took place in Glasgow, Scotland on 28 - 31 October 2021.