Superhero ‘Cipta’ to help UNICEF end violence in schools

JAKARTA/NEW YORK, 10 January 2019 – Rizka Raisa Fatimah Ramli, a 17-year-old student from Makassar, Indonesia, has won the UNICEF and Comics Uniting Nations’ worldwide comic contest with a character who helps keep children and young people safe from violence in and around schools.

‘Cipta’ – as the main character is called – is a make-believe superhero who gives children a sketchbook to draw objects that in turn come to life and stop violence and bullying. 

“I created ‘Cipta’ to draw attention to the violence and bullying that children in Indonesia and around the world face every day,” said Rizka Raisa Fatimah Ramli. “Through drawing, I feel that my character is alive and I have control over bullies. I hope I can inspire many people, especially children, to tell their stories and if they can’t say it directly, to do so through drawing.”

The comic contest, launched by UNICEF and Comics Uniting Nations in October 2018, called on children and young people to create a comic superhero that would defeat The Silence – a supernatural character that uses its powers to stop children from speaking up and taking action against violence in and around schools. Nearly 3,600 submissions were entered by young people from more than 130 countries, and more than 23,000 votes were cast on the contest website to determine the winner.

Rizka will now collaborate with a professional team to produce a full-length comic book featuring ‘Cipta’. Her comic book will be presented to World Leaders at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development at the United Nations in July 2019, as well as distributed to schools and children worldwide.

“The number of incredible entries we received sends a powerful message that children and young people want to break the silence on school violence and bullying,” said UNICEF Director of Communication Paloma Escudero. “Congratulations to Rizka on her winning design, which will inspire thousands of students to speak out and help #ENDviolence in and around schools.”  

From fighting and bullying to sexual harassment and corporal punishment, violence in and around school can have devastating, long-term consequences for children. The global superhero comic contest was designed to encourage children and young people to be part of UNICEF’s global campaign to shed light on and spark action to #ENDviolence in schools through the creative medium of comic design. 

For more information, including superhero descriptions and artwork, visit the contest website: https://uni.cf/school-superhero