From Silence to Expression
3 year project report
What began in 2023 as a modest pilot project has blossomed into a
powerful platform for advocacy. Over the last three years, we have empowered
185 artists—both youth and adults—to document the reality of living with
landmines through art.
Who Is Speaking Out?
Our contest provides a rare space for diverse community members to lead
the conversation. The demographics of our participants reveal who is driving this
advocacy:
- Youth Voices: Girls Leading the Way
Young women are driving the youth movement, representing 56% of all youth
participants (50 out of 89) over three years. Young men also contributed
powerfully, with balanced participation peaking in 2024 when the youth category
saw nearly equal gender representation—34 females and 32 males - Adult Advocates: Growing Male Engagement
Adult women have been consistent voices throughout the campaign,
comprising 36% of adult participants (35 out of 96). A dramatic shift occurred in
2025, when adult men surged to 75% of participants (39 out of 52), showing
strong commitment from fathers, community leaders, and survivors to advocate
for mine-free communities
Strategic Engagement
In a historic first for 2025, a soldier from the State Administration Council
(SAC) submitted artwork depicting his real-world experiences in Shan State and
was awarded an honorable mention. This milestone demonstrates the campaign’s
unique ability to transcend conflict lines and engage diverse actors—including
military personnel—in the conversation on landmine impacts.