In a world where data and technology are ascendant, it’s easy to lose sight of the value of creativity in furthering important causes – such as malaria prevention. And yet, one critical way to harness the power of childhood art for social change is to take it seriously as an artistic endeavor, to value it through cultivation and thoughtful reflection, and to reveal it as a valuable expression of early childhood development worthy of our attention, when a child’s efforts are often dismissed by adults as mere play.
The Power of Childhood Art
Children’s art is not just colorful chicken scratchings and crayon-gobbled-up paper – it’s the reflection of an imaginative self that senses, fears, and dreams. When children make pictures, they speak in stark and beautiful phrases. These narratives often capture how they see the world from the heart; sometimes, better than it could ever be expressed in words. Channeling such creativity into advocacy can transform dry and technical issues such as malaria into a subject of concrete concern across a wider universe.
Understanding Malaria: A Global Challenge
First, I think it’s important to explain a bit about malaria. Malaria is a life-threatening illness caused by parasites that spread to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Although the incidence of malaria has gone down substantially in recent years, it’s still a major global health issue, with most cases occurring in the sub-Saharan region of Africa. In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that there were 247 million cases of malaria around the world and 619,000 deaths.
Biting bugs continue to be a major malaria risk, and efforts to combat them include the distribution of insecticide-treated nets indoors, as well as antimalarial drugs. But in many areas, these resources are lacking. Education about prevention is still an ongoing challenge.
The Role of Art in Advocacy
First, because it captures attention and moves people emotionally. Second, it makes complex issues real, which is what art in advocacy tries to do when it humanizes issues. In the case of malaria advocacy, children’s artworks have the power to help because they:
- Simplicity: the messages in kids’ art can be conveyed in a way that is immediately accessible to people of all ages. Simple, even simple-seeming messages can cut to the crux of issues such as malaria, simply because the art made by children is so straight-ahead. Clarity: the messages behind children’s art can be delivered in ways that nobody can miss.
- Emotional Appeal: Images of suffering children may be able to engage readers at an emotional level, enlivening about malaria. The issue of malaria will become more important to individuals if they feel emotionally impacted by it. By evoking emotions, advocates can nudge people to look at the problem of malaria differently, while also inspiring compassion and action.
- Language independent: Art is language independent: a picture of a mosquito, or a net, can be understood by audiences who don’t speak the same language.
Turning Art into Action: Steps to Effective Advocacy
To transform childhood art into a force for malaria advocacy, follow these steps:
1. Organize Art Workshops
First art workshops in schools or community centers. Children will compose artwork that will help raise awareness about malaria and how to prevent it. Give the children the tools they need – crayons, markers, paint – and tell them what to depict when it comes to malaria: why it’s important to use bed nets, what happens if you get malaria, and so on.
2. Create a Platform for Display
Display the artwork when completed. Put on displays, in community halls, schools, on the streets, and in shops. Use digital media – put up a website with the children’s art and some instructional material, or put things on social media. Share the children’s artwork with information about malaria.
3. Collaborate with Malaria Organizations
Join efforts with NGOs focused on malaria to maximize the force of the art: by using their existing assets (staff, customer base, technology) to disseminate educational materials, run awareness campaigns, provide administrative facilities to facilitate further advocacy strategies, and, importantly, facilitate access to policymakers.
4. Leverage Media and Public Relations
Contact the local media to document the art exhibitions and advocacy campaigns; consider news stories, interviews, and feature articles to explain and amplify your message to your community. Utilise press releases and media kits to keep the public informed.
5. Engage the Community
Spur community involvement, for instance, by hosting community events, fundraising, or by volunteering in activities, such as malaria prevention. The community involvement will help keep the momentum alive and continue moving forward.
6. Evaluate and Adapt
Check in regularly on how the advocacy work is going. Gather ongoing feedback from mutual aid participants, community members, and partner organizations to identify what’s working well and what needs improvement. Use their insights to adapt your approach, ensuring that your advocacy efforts remain relevant and effective.
Success Stories: Art in Action
Several creative campaigns have already demonstrated the power of art in conjunction with advocacy. In 2018, the ‘Malaria Must Die, So Millions Can Live’ campaign took artwork from children in malaria-endemic regions, turning their images into a compelling and nuanced campaign to raise awareness about childhood mortality from the disease.
Similarly, children in communities affected by malaria participated in the “Drawn to Hope” project, where they illustrated their dreams for a future free of malaria. We shared their artwork through posters and social media to raise awareness and inspire global action.
The Future of Art and Advocacy
Looking toward the future, we know that childhood art can inform and inspire advocacy campaigns. The constant evolution of technology and social media means that increasing numbers of voices can be reached to view and share art globally. Partnerships among artists, educators, and advocacy groups can continue to build upon each other – and to innovate on behalf
By capitalizing on the creative force of children’s artwork, young artivists turn art into a message that will bring malaria to the global forefront. At the same time, young artists instill themselves in a global field of responsibility, not only advocating for malaria but working to prevent it at the dawn of their human development.
Especially when it comes to combating malaria, every tool and strategy counts. Children’s art is a vital part of childhood that can serve as a powerful advocacy tool. By strategically organizing art workshops, creating exhibition spaces, forming partnerships with organizations, and leveraging media outreach, we can effectively mobilize children’s creativity for meaningful advocacy. As we seek new ways to engineer progress in global health, the power of bringing art into advocacy can be part of the mix.
And by pushing the boundaries of our understanding of art, we can empower children and their families to make world-changing changes. We can help to bring about the documentation of a malaria-free world. From the deepest in my heart, I believe we can help to make it happen.
