Samie knew that he had done a good drawing but he never thought it would end up among the best 20 in the world. The news that he had been selected among the winners of an annual international drawing competition organized by the World Food Programme (WFP) filled him with joy and disbelief. Normally a little shy, Samie was terribly excited.

Samie Joseph Kipimbye (13) studies at Kashengeneke primary school in the territory of Pweto in Katanga. Like more than 200,000 schoolchildren from vulnerable families in the Democratic Repulbic of Congo (DRC), he is a beneficiary of WFP's emergency school feeding programme which provides daily meals to more than 550 schools across the country.

This year, WFP's annual drawing contest had the theme 'Zero Hunger: Infinite Possibilities'. Held in 22 countries, it offered vulnerable children receiving WFP school meals the chance to imagine a world free from hunger. A shortlist of 115 works was drawn up and, out of these, 20 winners were selected by a WFP panel in Rome.

"To achieve a world without hunger, we need to grow food and also go fishing," said Samie when submitting his entry. "We also need roads. If water and land are well used, one can eat and not suffer from hunger".

Samie, who is from a family of six children, has been drawing since he was 9 years old. Colorful, joyful and precise, Samie's work is a strong expression of the fight against hunger. His ambition is one day to become a doctor.

This year we were able to eat at school every day, which is very good," he said. "This gave us the strength to complete the school year."

As the winner of the contest, Samie was awarded a prize of $100 by the Deputy Director of WFP in DRC. With this award, he can see one of his parents' dreams close to realization.

Samie and Silvia Caruso, WFP Deputy Country Director in DRC

"At the moment my parents rent a house and it is very expensive," he said on receiving the prize. "For a long time my parents have dreamed of building a house for the whole family and now I will help them."

This was the first time for a drawing from the DRC to be among the winners of this international competition.

See all results of the contest here: http://go.wfp.org/web/communications/winners-of-2015-children-s-design-c...

Samie's colorful drawing

 Source: United Nations World Food Programme (Rome)