Winners of the “Misioner@s de Esperanza” Art Contest: Photography
We are very happy with the great response to this call for submissions and deeply inspired by the creativity, sensitivity, and hope that the participants expressed in their works. We received pieces from different corners of the Mexican Republic.
The contest was held within the framework of the Jubilee of Hope for migrants and refugees— a time to recognize their dignity, honor their stories, and renew our commitment to walk alongside them.
This initiative was organized by the Network for Migrants, Immigrants, and Refugees (MIRN), with the desire to create a space where young people could express, through art, their spirit of solidarity with those who set out on journeys of search and life.
Thank you to everyone who participated and shared their talent.
Enjoy this gallery created with so much heart!
Last August, we celebrated the “Misioner@s de Esperanza” Art Contest, an initiative that aimed to inspire creativity and the missionary spirit through various forms of artistic expression. Today, we joyfully share the winners in the Photography category, whose works reflect the talent and hope that sustain our mission.
1st Place: Ismael Ricardo León Cantú – “El abrazo que viaja más allá de las fronteras”.
Explanation of the work:
At 14,449 km from home, it is difficult to remain in a constant state of slf-denial and altruism, a condition in which our emotions and earthly desires often work against us, where service must continue to be a priority at all times. In moments of uncertainty and restlessness, it becomes hard to seek the Father without seeing Him, and without the certainty of truly finding His gaze beyond.
Sister Sonia, a Mexican Comboni Sister, has served in the community of Mongu, Zambia, since 2019. She has become one with Christ and committed herself to the One she loves most. Her love, passed on through generations, shelters the naked, embraces the needy, and comforts the sick in both body and soul. She embodies the strength of those who venture far from a purpose far greater than temselves.
Her example is just one among millions of migrants with enough courage and love to transform their surroundings and bring hope to those most in need, a true reflection of the strength and hope that define them.
2nd Place: María García Ojeda – “El sueño Mexicano”
Explanation of the work:
He arrived in Mexico with his family, seeking a new life. The camp where they live has existed for six years, and more people keep arriving, all of them yearning for a better future. His childhood unfolds among tents and train tracks, reminding us that many migrant children grow up waiting, yet still dream of a different tomorrow.
3rd Place: Bárbara Ghio Torres – “Caminando entre silencios”
Explanation of the work:
The photo reflects solitude, innocence, and a moment of pause amid chaos. It seeks to represent the image of a lost child as a metaphor for the families separated by migration. I chose to show the child from behind and alone to convey the uncertainty and unprootedness that so many people face. The black-and-white tones emphasize the seriousness of the subject, evoking nostalgia and reflection on the human consequences of these processes.
Honorable Mention: Edith Sofia Sánchez Imperial – “Entre fronteras y flores”
Explanation of the work:
This photograph represents, for me, what the migrant population embodies, the act of traveling to a new place and trying to adapt to it. The butterfly is resting and adjusting to its new surroundings among plants and flowers, just as migrants adapt to a new country in search of a better quality of life.
One of the main reasons butterflies migrate is to escape problems in their natural habitat, such as food scarcity, overpopulation, or competitio for resources. Similarity, in 2024, it was estimated that at least 123.3 million people were forced to migrate within their own countries, mainly due to armed conflicts and human rights violations that make safe living impossible.
This image shows how both butterflies and migrants are compelled to embark on a journey that is not easy, one that means leaving all their memories behind to start a new. Yet they do not give up; they keep the hope that everything will be alright.
DPersonally, I believe art is a way to raise awareness about important messages. In this case, it sheds light on the lives of migrants so that others may understand how difficult it is to leave everything behind and still move foward. Migrant populations tend to be more vulnerable to violence and injustice due to the misconceptions society holds about them. That’s why I wish to raise my voice through art, to show that, like butterflies, migrants cross borders searching for a place where their wings can open once again.
Honorable Mention: Eleyn Echarry
Explanation of the work:
In a world where borders are increasingly defined, the word migrant is often associated with terms like “invasion” or “theft”. Yet behind every person who crosses a border lies a story of survival, a search for a future that has become unattainable in their homeland. We do not come to steal your country; we come to find a place where our lives, our work, and our dreams are not in constant danger.
The decision to leave everything behind is not a whim. It stems from deep desperation, one that leaves no other choice. It is not an easy decision. We leave behind our families, our roots, the smells and flavors of childhood. We do it because the alternative is to face violence, political persecution, lack of opportunity, or, in many cases, hunger. We cross deserts, seas, and mountains, not out of a desire to invade, but from the longing to live, We seek refuge, a space to rebuild our existence, and to offer our children the hope of a better life.
Like you, we too desire stability, peace, and the opportunity to contribute. We are engineers, farmers, teachers, artists, people with dreams and talents we wish to share. We come with the hope of working and enriching the community that welcomes us. The hands that once worked the land in my country are ready to help build a new home. The eyes that once saw injustice are ready to witness a future where peace becomes reality.
Amid this journey, I found my freedom through photography. I remember the first time I held a camera in my hometown. Danger was present on every corner, but through the lens, the world transformed, rubble became texture, shadows turned into stories, and weary faces became portraits of unbreakable resilience. The camera became my shield and my voice. With it, I could capture the beauty that still existed amid chaos and document the humanity that refused to surrender.
One day, while fleeing, a family stopped beside me. The father, eyes filled with fear, asked me to take a photo of his daughter. “I want her to have a memory of home, in case we never return,” he said. In that moment, I realized my art was more than my own liberation, it was a tool to preserve memory, to give others proof that they existed, that they fought, and that they didn’t give up. Through my photography, I honor the life I left behind and celebrate the one I’m building here. This is not an act of conquest, but a way to share my story and my humanity. We come to live, to work, and to find a place we can call home, just like you.
We invite you to continue exploring and meet the winners of the remaining categories of the 2025 Art Contest. Every artwork tells a unique story and is worth discovering.
Learn more about the winners of the other categories here:
