Competition Thoughts and Colors: When Solidarity is Colored with Creativity

Four schools, hundreds of young artists, one single great heart. The POBIC competition ended with an extraordinary celebration of solidarity.

When POBIC launched the “Thoughts and Colors” contest in the 2024/2025 school year, the idea was as simple as it was powerful: asking children to imagine what a t-shirt that tells a story of solidarity, mutual aid, and the happiness of being together would look like. A way to unite art, education, and the values that have guided the association in Italy and around the world for over thirty years.

The response was overwhelming.

Four Schools, One Common Challenge

From the province of Verona to that of Cremona, four schools have enthusiastically welcomed the challenge: the Solinas Primary School in Verona, the Brazzuoli Primary School in Pozzaglio, the Vescovato Primary School, and the one in Castelvetro. Four different realities, united by the desire to get involved and to portray, through colors and shapes, what it means to help others.

The children were inspired by the stories told in class, by fairy tales, and by their personal emotions. They drew hearts embracing the world, hands intertwining, rainbows uniting continents, smiles overcoming every border. Each artwork was a little masterpiece of purity and hope.

A Journey Made of Creativity and Anticipation

Following the close of submissions in March, the most exciting phase began: online voting. Families, friends, teachers, grandparents – everyone participated, sharing the drawings on social media and supporting the little artists. POBIC channels filled with colors and messages of encouragement. For weeks, the enthusiasm grew.

The top three drawings from each school were selected, and finally, on May 30 and 31, 2026, the time came for the grand celebration at the Zanzarina d’Oro in Calvatone. Here, a panel of experts had the difficult task of choosing the winners among extraordinary works, each capable of moving and inspiring reflection.

The Podium of Solidarity

At the end of an emotional ceremony, the winners were announced:

First place – Solinas Primary School, Verona
An explosion of colors and symbols that managed to capture the essence of the POBIC mission: every child in the world deserves care, love, a future. The winning drawing will be printed on the official 2026 POBIC t-shirt, worn by the association's volunteers in Italy and abroad. And the school receives a 1,000 euro prize to be used for educational projects.

Runner-up – Brazzuoli Primary School, Pozzaglio
A work that was moving in its delicacy and depth, capable of recounting with simplicity the value of friendship and mutual support.

Third place – Vescovato Primary School
A creation full of energy and optimism, which won over both the jury and the public with its freshness and universal message of hope.

All Winners

But while the podium has its protagonists, the true victory was a collective one. Every child who participated helped spread a powerful message: solidarity can be colorful, joyful, contagious. They learned that even a simple drawing can make a difference, can unite people who are far apart, can save lives.

Because this is exactly what POBIC has been doing for over thirty years: saving lives. With the program Open Heart, he has performed free surgeries on more than 50 children with heart disease in Nigeria and Uganda. With Emergency Transport, has donated ambulances and trained healthcare personnel in Africa and Ukraine. In 2024 alone, it helped 2,200 displaced families in Ukraine and visited 200 children in Uganda.

All of this is possible thanks to those who believe in solidarity. And this year, also thanks to the young artists of Verona, Pozzaglio, Vescovato, and Castelvetro, who have shown that change begins with a blank sheet of paper and a lot of, a lot of imagination.

And now?

The winning t-shirt will be worn with pride by POBIC volunteers on upcoming international missions. A symbol that will travel from Italy to Africa, carrying with it the message that Italian children want to send to the children of the world: you are not alone. We are taking care of you.

And who knows, maybe among these young artists there is already the next doctor, the next volunteer, the next person who will dedicate their life to helping others. Because as POBIC says: “If each of us decided, in our own small way, to do something for others every day, the world would be a much better place.”

And they, these children, have already begun.

THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT

WE SAVE THE LIVES OF DOZENS OF CHILDREN EVERY YEAR. HELP US DO EVEN MORE.

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Author

Dino Nolli

Marketer and professor of communication and marketing, sensitive to humanitarian and relief issues. I only write about what truly interests me, and POBIC's mission is of crucial importance.

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