Human Rights Competition: the world I want to live in – celebrating young voices

Our human rights competition was launched in December 2021, you can read about it here. Over the last 6 months we have had a wonderful response with entries from all over the world. It is evidence of the discussions and investigations that young people have been having in schools with the support of their teachers.


The entries showed the wide range of stories, experiences and concerns that young people have and want to communicate. The competition highlighted the range of different experiences that young people are grappling with in their respective cultures and countries. These experiences do not always translate or get heard and understood by other people in different parts of the world.

 

We commend the young people who had the courage to send in entries based on their experiences and concerns. We believe that these art works and creations will speak to others and open a door for young people to understand each other and learn about the different experiences we have around the world.

 

 

The winning entries

 

The judges found it very difficult to choose the winners, many of the entries focussed on personal experiences and it was incredibly brave and honest of students to share their stories.

 

Some of the entries were deeply reflective of real scenarios the young people are contending with in reality, whether that is here in the UK or internationally.

 

There were many entries that linked all human rights together and they were much appreciated by the judges as it is very difficult to choose one human right over another.

 

The judges found some of the excitement of the primary entries very uplifting but often human rights was discussed in the abstract. We hope that young people will continue to find out about human rights and the principles and reality of human rights through creative arts.

Blockquote Title

Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home—so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighbourhood they live in; the school or college they attend; the factory, farm, or office where they work. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Winners in categories

 

Here you can see the winners in the various categories that the judges chose.



Drawing & Painting primary school winners

Drawing & Painting secondary school winners

Podcast winners

Poetry & Spoken Word winners

Illustrated Story winner

3D Art winners

Special mentions



Inspiration from the entries

 

We had so many strong entries that we would like to share them here. If you are doing a project in school about human rights, have a look at these collections of entries so that you can inspire young people to start their own discussions based on the ideas, artwork and creations of other young people in the world.


Collection of artwork entries

Collection of 3D craft entries

Collection of written entries

Collection of speaking entries

Collection of singing entries



We would like to thank everyone who entered the competition, and even those who did not share their artwork with us but did start discussions in their school about human rights, what they are and what they mean.


Thank you to the judges Audrey Osler, Ellie Barrett and Gus John for their time and energy in launching this project and judging all the wonderful entries.


Thank you to our partners The Gambia Teachers Union, National Education Union and The Big Draw.






Steve Sinnott • June 27, 2022

Headlines: Inspiration, humour and advice for school leaders - Competition 2025

By Ann Beatty • August 15, 2025
Mike Fleetham of Thinking Classroom has written a book " Headlines: Inspiration, humour and advice for school leaders ". A collection of original ideas, advice from professionals, quotes, and tips to support and inspire all leaders. Perfect for new and established leaders working in education, especially headteachers. "Being a headteacher is like looking both ways before you cross the road, and then getting hit by an aeroplane." To Enter the Competition To win a copy of Headlines please share your inspiring education or life lesson in no more than 600 words. The winning article will also be published in our next edition of Engage. Send your words of inspiration to admin@stevesinnottfoundation.org.uk 📅 Deadline: 5th September 2025⁠ Stuck on Ideas? Here are some questions and prompts to get you started! What’s the one lesson school didn’t teach you, but life did? Think of a moment that changed your path, what happened? What piece of advice has helped you grow the most? When did a challenge turn into an opportunity for you? What story from your life would inspire someone on the other side of the world? What’s the life lesson that unlocked your next chapter? ⁠ Your words could uplift, empower and be seen by many. Let your story inspire the world! 🌍💡⁠ Good luck and we cant wait to read all the entries!

UNESCO ASPnet Schools Coventry

By Ann Beatty • July 8, 2025
This week our CEO Ann and Jude (SSF Ambassador) visited schools in Coventry and heard about the wonderful work that students are doing to foster peace and community connection, as part of Coventry Arts Week. We visited Lyng Hall school in the morning and met with Ms Hagan and four of the schools UNESCO ASPnet ambassadors. They told us all about their recent project. The students took their art and poetry to the 80th Anniversary symposium in Ypres and Dunkirk. They shared with us some of the poetry they had written together with the students on the field trip and some of their own poems too. They also shared their future plans for working with their local primary school on peace and community. We also had the privilege of joining Ms Hagans class where they were looking at Caliban’s tale. Here is one of the students work

A Get Moving Fundraiser - Ann's 60 Miles Walk

By Ann Beatty • June 30, 2025
For my birthday this year I had the honour to walk 60 miles (yes it was a big 0 birthday) over 3 days to support the essential work of the Steve Sinnott Foundation of which I am CEO. Education in its many forms is essential for all of us to thrive and make the most of life's opportunities. The Foundation works to ensure that as many children and adults as possible across the globe can access the human right of education. The plan was to walk with friends and supporters who I hoped would keep me smiling along the way and it felt like a good way to make use of the Foundation’s “Get Moving” campaign. Here's how my Get Moving Fundraiser went on the first day. The 13th June I started my walk in London by walking from Barnet to west Hampstead and visiting my sister at her shop at Tree of Life where I got served a nice iced coffee to keep me going.