A youth artist and activist from Makassar, Indonesia, unveiled today a new comic book designed to help keep children and young people safe from violence in and around schools.
18-year-old Rizka Raisa Fatimah Ramli – winner of UNICEF and Comics Uniting Nations’ School Superhero Comic Contest – presented her comic book, entitled CIPTA, Create, to leaders from government, business, civil society and UN agencies, as well 100 children and young people, at the annual United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, held in New York.
Rizka created superhero Cipta to help stop the violence and bullying that children face in and around schools every day in Indonesia and around the world. In the comic book, Cipta brings her drawings to life in order to defeat invisible forces and restore peace in schools.
“I hope Cipta can inspire others to take action, especially those that are afraid to speak up,” said Rizka. “Through the comic I want to help other young people overcome their fears and use their own superpowers to stop bullying and violence, including through art and expression, such as drawing, writing, activism or acting.”
Since winning the worldwide contest earlier this year, Rizka has been working with a team of comic book professionals in the United States to bring her concept to life. This includes a mentorship with DeCheser Media and support from Tim Lattie – known for iconic comic designs Ghostbusters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Plants vs Zombies and Night Stars – and a mentoring session with international comic artist Gabriel Picolo.
Rizka worked with the team on the scripting, penciling, paneling and colouring processes to produce a 10-page comic book named after her winning superhero, Cipta.
UNICEF and Comics Uniting Nations’ School Superhero Comic Contest – launched in October 2018 – called on children and young people to create a comic superhero that can keep students safe from violence in and around schools, including bullying. Over 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’s winning comic will be distributed to students in more than 100,000 schools globally.
“Cipta is a powerful metaphor for the young superheroes all over the world taking action against violence and bullying in and around schools,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “As we mark the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, I have no doubt that young people around the world, including Rizka, will inspire world leaders to take action for the rights of every child.”
