7-Eleven: The Future of the SDGs as Envisioned by Children - 2024 Contest Award Ceremony
The award ceremony for the 5th Annual National SDGs Children's Poster Contest (2024) was held on Sunday, February 16, 2025, celebrating this year's prize winners.
The contest, organized by the NPO "Kodomo Daigaku Kunitachi"(Children’s University Kunitachi), was launched in 2020 with the goal of encouraging future generations to learn about, think about, and creatively express the SDGs through poster-making. Open to elementary and junior high school students across Japan, this year marks its fifth edition.
Seven-Eleven Japan provided sponsorship and promotional support for the initiative, including in-store poster displays. The 2024 competition attracted approximately 6,000 entries from domestic and international participants, with a demonstrable year-over-year increase in both quality and originality.
Some of the winning entries of "SDGs National Children's Poster Contest" Seven-Eleven Award
The winners, aged 6 to 15, traveled from across Japan and overseas to receive their awards, with their families in attendance.
One winner chose Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals as her contest theme. In an interview, she explained her artwork: "Partnership means cooperation. I believe achieving this goal will pave the way for the others."
Children's picture book author Yuichi Kimura, a judge for the contest alongside figures like rakugo storyteller Kikuo Hayashiya, praised the entries: "I'm envious! I wish I could draw like this," he said, admiring the fresh perspectives only children can offer.
Fashion designer Hiroko Koshino also encouraged the participants, saying, "It's so important for young people to engage with the SDGs from an early age. I hope you take on this challenge again!"
This contest was a valuable opportunity to deepen awareness of the future alongside the children.
