Around the world, many children cannot attend school because of poverty and educational inequality. The International Art Festival for Children around the World (World Children Art Festival) is a group of students at Tohoku Fukushi University who collect drawings by children overseas, make charity calendars, and share the children’s situations.
What drives them, and what walls do they face? At their booth at Global Festa Japan 2026, held on October 17 and 18, we spoke with a student member.
Poverty and educational inequality: the reality facing children overseas
Conditions for children around the world are growing harsher. The most serious social issue the group confronts through its work is poverty and the educational gap that comes with it.
“Because of poverty and educational inequality, some children can go to school and some cannot.”
For economic reasons or because of local conditions, some children are deprived of educational opportunities that should be given equally, and their options for the future narrow. To help resolve this, the group keeps working in its own way.
Educational opportunity through pictures: the thinking behind the charity calendar
What the group puts the most effort into is the charity calendar it makes every year.
“We collect drawings from children overseas and make a charity calendar.”
It does not simply raise money: the activity works through drawings made by the children themselves. By using art as the means of expression, the group hopes to give children an educational opportunity through their pictures, to help solve the problem.
The booth displayed colorful drawings by children from around the world, a corner where visitors answered the question “What is a special moment for you?” on sticky notes, and the 2026 calendar, “Moments (Toki).”
The wall of publicity, and the difficulty of conveying children’s feelings
Asked what is hardest about the work, two challenges emerged.
One is a struggle in the production process.
“In making the calendar, there is the question of how much of the children’s feelings we can include.”
How can the background and emotions packed into a single drawing be conveyed accurately and deeply to people in Japan in a limited space? That is a theme the supporters must keep facing.
The other is the difficulty of publicity, of spreading the word about the activity.
“We make the calendar, but there are few chances for people to learn about this activity, so I think publicity is hard too.”
Even with fine ideals and works, a lack of points of contact to deliver them is a worry shared by many organizations.
What we can do in Japan: the importance of “knowing the situation”
What can we in Japan do for children across the sea? Acknowledging the limits of distance and of support, the student offered a sure first step.
“I think what we can do is limited, but knowing the children’s situation is important.”
Before direct action such as donating or volunteering, “knowing” is where everything begins. Thinking, through the calendar’s pictures, about the lives of the children on the other side and the social problems they face is an important form of international cooperation we can start from daily life.
Toward the sale of the charity calendar
The group is now preparing a new calendar.
“The 2027 charity calendar will be finished soon, and I hope everyone can use it next year.”
It also plans street sales in December. The words “I hope everyone will buy one” carried a strong wish to share the culmination of a year’s work with many people.
Finally, the student had a message for readers.
“We want people to know about our activities, and we will keep working hard so that people know the children’s situation. I would be happy if you would support us.”
The International Art Festival for Children around the World keeps tackling the large problem of educational inequality through a single drawing and a calendar. Get to know their work, and start with “knowing.”
About the organization: International Art Festival for Children around the World
You can read an overview of the group in our NGO profile.
Read the NGO profile → / Official website: https://www.worldchildren-smile.com/
Interview information
Interview: NGO network Japan editorial team / Event: Global Festa Japan 2026 (booth no. 76) / Dates: October 17–18, 2026