In a modest room in Kampala, Uganda, 18-year-old David Menga transforms blank canvases into powerful narratives of survival, loss, and resilience.

His brushstrokes tell stories that words often fail to capture – from the haunting portrayal of orphaned siblings to serene landscapes that dream of environmental harmony.

“After leaving Congo due to war, I found in art a tool for communication,” says Menga, his eyes fixed on his latest work-in-progress. The young artist fled the Democratic Republic of Congo with his family in 2016, carrying little more than dreams of becoming a professional footballer. But life had different plans for the teenage refugee.

Two years after settling in Uganda, Menga discovered painting, an art form that would become his voice in a world where refugees often go unheard. His early works reflect both the trauma of displacement and the hope of new beginnings. One particularly moving piece depicts two orphaned children, the older sibling carrying the younger, their faces etched with a sorrow beyond their years.

The COVID-19 pandemic proved to be both a curse and an unexpected blessing for the young artist. “The storm clouds loomed over my hopes and ambitions,” Menga recalls, describing the dark days of lockdown. “This gruesome virus perished my thoughts and locked my dreams behind the facemasks.” Confined to his room, which became both studio and sanctuary, he channeled his anxiety and isolation into his art.

This period of forced introspection led to an unexpected breakthrough. Menga’s powerful portrayal of the pandemic’s impact on families worldwide caught the attention of the UNHCR, earning him recognition in their first global Youth with Refugees Art Contest, organized to celebrate the organization’s 75th anniversary. “I was happier that I could fulfill my wishes,” he says, a rare smile breaking through his usual intensity. “Through my art, I knew I could be someone better in the future.”

Success continued to follow, with another win in an Indonesian art contest in 2022, though visa issues and financial constraints prevented him from attending the ceremony in person, luckily, he received the soft copy of his Certificate of recognition by email. These challenges persist, Menga struggles to afford art supplies and lacks a proper workspace. Yet his ambitions have evolved beyond personal achievement.

“I dream of training other young people who are passionate about painting,” he says, sketching out plans for a future art workshop. Despite the financial obstacles, Menga sees teaching as a way to multiply the healing power of art in his community.

Today, his paintings serve as windows into the refugee experience – each canvas a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Whether depicting environmental themes through peaceful riverside scenes or capturing the raw emotion of displacement, Menga’s work speaks to universal human experiences while highlighting the particular challenges faced by displaced people.