A Global Puzzle A Global Puzzle The Insights of Children in World MapsThe Insights of Children in World Maps

Unite the Puzzle Unite the Puzzle and the Beautiful Imageand the Beautiful Image

by Ummul Izzah An Nafisah Supriadi, by Ummul Izzah An Nafisah Supriadi, age 5, Indonesiaage 5, Indonesia

In the first look, this map almost In the first look, this map almost looks straight out of an atlas or looks straight out of an atlas or off a stamp. In the second look, I off a stamp. In the second look, I noticed the simplicity of this map noticed the simplicity of this map — no names identifying — no names identifying continents, countries, or bodies of continents, countries, or bodies of water. The detail in the flag water. The detail in the flag border contrasts the empty space border contrasts the empty space in the continents. The equation in the continents. The equation of these unidentified places add of these unidentified places add up to the entire world. Also, the up to the entire world. Also, the medium of markers is so medium of markers is so representative of a child. representative of a child.

What Make Earth What Make Earth by Grace Lee, age15, Canadaby Grace Lee, age15, Canada

A Simple EquationA Simple Equation

This mulitmedia mosaic This mulitmedia mosaic has an appropriate and has an appropriate and mature sense of the mature sense of the world as fragments put world as fragments put together. With our mind together. With our mind and eyes, we unify it. and eyes, we unify it. Isn’t that the goal of Isn’t that the goal of global learning — to global learning — to unify and build unify and build connections? I love that connections? I love that Argentina is represented Argentina is represented by bright woven fabric.by bright woven fabric.

Oil slicks in the world (Les marèes noires dans le monde)by Eugenia Margarit, Age 10, Argentina

Bits and Pieces Put Together

The Global Mind’s Eye

The moment I saw this The moment I saw this image, I was fascinated image, I was fascinated by it. I feel like this is a by it. I feel like this is a truly original piece of truly original piece of art, and I love the way it art, and I love the way it captured the global captured the global perspective in such an perspective in such an arresting way. I believe arresting way. I believe this child was trying to this child was trying to get people to think get people to think about the way they look about the way they look at the world from an at the world from an individual perspective, individual perspective, or — in this case — from or — in this case — from a child’s perspective. a child’s perspective.

See the World Shining in Your Eyes!by Helena Våinmaa, Age 13, Estonia

Sanchez’s artwork Sanchez’s artwork reflects the major issues reflects the major issues of multiculturalism and of multiculturalism and pluralism: war, politics, pluralism: war, politics, power, segregation and power, segregation and discrimination, pollution, discrimination, pollution, trade and economics. trade and economics. These are things that he These are things that he would like to see would like to see eliminated for his future eliminated for his future and the future of the and the future of the planet.planet.

That Which is Unwelcome In My World

Un Mundo Prohibidoby Omar Sanchez Mendoza, Age 14, Mexico

This is an ethereal, This is an ethereal, affectionate view of two affectionate view of two innocents, the Eastern innocents, the Eastern Hemisphere gently Hemisphere gently leaning toward the leaning toward the Western Hemisphere to Western Hemisphere to offer love and kindness. offer love and kindness. To me, the greens To me, the greens suggest growth and suggest growth and prosperity and the prosperity and the dream of a better future dream of a better future for all children.for all children.

Let Put Our Heads Together...

The Earth is Beginning of Everything!by Ugne Zakarauskaite, Age 14, Lithuania

This imaginative scene This imaginative scene is done with wikki sticks is done with wikki sticks and a future-minded and a future-minded child. It offers hope in child. It offers hope in our abilities to work our abilities to work through our problems through our problems and venture into and venture into territory that has no territory that has no borders. It is curious borders. It is curious how the land below does how the land below does not resemble our current not resemble our current continental layout....continental layout....

It’s a Wikki World!

Marvellous Skyby Ding Ting, Age 11, China

I enjoy this little 7-year-I enjoy this little 7-year-old’s view of people so old’s view of people so big in their own minds big in their own minds that they can lift up the that they can lift up the world. All the people world. All the people lifting are so happy and lifting are so happy and cooperative. My guess is cooperative. My guess is that the blue and pink that the blue and pink represent cultural represent cultural “opposites.” The baby “opposites.” The baby represents the least of represents the least of us — we can help, too!us — we can help, too!

Lift up the World

Together Strong!by Eline Vranken, Age 7, Belgium

Children=The Worldby Wendy Meakin, Age 12, Australia

This collage has many This collage has many interesting aspects. The interesting aspects. The individual children’s individual children’s expressions and physical expressions and physical characteristics, the fact that characteristics, the fact that the collage spills over the the collage spills over the page’s border, and the fact page’s border, and the fact that pictures overlap one that pictures overlap one another. Although twelve is another. Although twelve is typically a very self-typically a very self-absorbed, individualistic age, absorbed, individualistic age, this girl sees many different this girl sees many different children working together for children working together for the sake of the world.the sake of the world.

A Big World of Small Faces

This piece almost looks This piece almost looks like it should be on the like it should be on the cover of “Time Magazine.” cover of “Time Magazine.” It has the feel of an It has the feel of an advertisement or a advertisement or a campaign. Indeed, it is. I campaign. Indeed, it is. I think it speaks loudly that think it speaks loudly that a child from Croatia, on a child from Croatia, on the heels of a brutal the heels of a brutal ethnic war, can be ethnic war, can be forward-thinking enough forward-thinking enough to worry about the to worry about the environment and the environment and the things we can do to help things we can do to help our environment.our environment.

Accumulate Preservation

Once is Not Enough — Recycleby Marinko Cirkvenic, Age 15, Croatia

I Want Peaceby Nabiyev Tuzol Alipasha oghli, Age 8, Azerbaijan

A Desperate Plea

For me, this last drawing is the most salient image that I saw in this collection of children’s artwork. The first and most obvious is the remarkably sophisticated fine motor skill and artistic eye for such a young child. The second thing I noticed was the disturbing, violent state of the world, indicated by the refugee’s tearful face, the sharp edges of the continent’s outlines, and the black waters of the oceans. The third thing I noticed is the fact that “I want peace” is written in English despite the fact that Azerbaijan one of six independent Turkish states and the official language is Azerbaijani.

This child already has a broad sense of social studies that encompasses geography, social context, and environmental issues. She has the knowledge that we can divide our world’s cultures and betray our planet if we do not change our perspective. The result is a powerful and poignant vision.

These pictures represent a variety of young, fresh perspectives on the global citizenship and the problems of the world. They have so many interesting facets: the vibrant colors with lots of greens and blues, the views from distant places, the insightful observations for such young minds, and — in some — the visible, raw anxiety of the future of our world.

Clearly, young people all over the world can understand the concepts of pluralism and global citizenship. The artwork here renders these artists inspirational role models for both adults and children. Teachers can use them as visual examples of thought-provoking material that may motivate others to think about the world through a wider lens.

For a class project, I would talk with my class about the meaning of global citizenship and write the evolution of our thoughts on the blackboard. Then I would ask my students to choose a one of three or four of these pictures and talk about what they see with a partner. Then I would ask them to create their own picture. Later, I would have them show their pictures to their partners and discuss what they both see in each other’s pictures. This would be an opportunity to think about what global citizenship is, how they can contribute as a global citizens, and how others’ cultures and backgrounds effect their perceptions of global citizenship.

written by Miranda Danku

ECI 524

North Carolina State University

Source for Artwork and Information:

Children Map Their World: The Barbara Petchenik Children’s Map Competition. Carleton University Library, Maps, Data and Government Information Centre. Ottawa, Canada. Retrieved on July 22, 2012 from http://children.library.carleton.ca/index.htm

Music by Deadmau5, “The Veldt.”Music by Deadmau5, “The Veldt.”