Joe Whale, 12, Creates A Giant Doodle Inspired by World Vision’s Work

Artist Joe Whale, 12, creates a giant doodle inspired by World Vision’s work with children impacted by poverty

Up-and-coming artist the Doodle Boy, AKA Joe Whale produced a giant doodle depicting how children are empowered to overcome poverty and achieve their dreams.

Passengers and workers at Waterloo Station were intrigued on Wednesday (August 24) by a giant doodle being created live on the concourse to raise awareness of the work of global Christian children’s charity World Vision UK.

A picture containing text, person, indoor, child

Description automatically generated today – six months on from the invasion of Ukraine, World Vision has helped more than 116,313 refugees including 49,976 children with vital food, education, and healthcare. The charity is working in the Ukraine itself as well as in Moldova, Romania, and Georgia bringing food, healthcare, education, and psychosocial support.

The artwork was created by the Doodle Boy AKA Joe Whale, a 12-year-old up-and-coming artist from Shrewsbury. As a child himself, Joe was drawing his quirky characters to celebrate the work global children’s charity World Vision carries out in more than 100 countries.

For inspiration, Joe was handed a copy of World Vision’s very own Kids Who Dared to Dream book, which contains stories of children who overcame adversity to achieve their ambitions.

Isaac and Anita, featured in the book, are both from communities where World Vision’s ongoing projects are helping people transform their lives through better education, clean sources of water, sustainable nutrition, and much more.

Anita from Kenya, who found a solution to the hunger problem her community faced when the rain stopped and corn couldn’t grow. Anita was just nine when she looked at planting alternatives that would grow in dry conditions. Now her garden is full of fruit and vegetables, her family are all fed and they make extra money by selling the surplus crops.

Isaac, the clean-up kid from Nicaragua was horrified by mountains of ugly rubbish in his community that attracted disease-ridden mosquitoes that spread dengue fever – a nasty illness that causes skin rashes, vomiting, and dehydration.

Isaac was just 16 but learnt about how to stop the smelly piles of rubbish messing up the streets, how to stop the village’s drinking water getting dirty, the right way to wash his hands, and he taught families in his community to do the same. Now the whole village is healthier, happier, and less smelly thanks to Isaac’s efforts.

Alina Sisianu, Head of Digital Marketing and Communications at World Vision UK, says:

We know that some children are born into communities where there isn’t adequate food, water, healthcare or education. We work with those communities to find sustainable ways of providing all of those things.

Other children can find their lives are changed in an instant as they suddenly find themselves having to flee because of conflict. We aim to ensure every child has the opportunity of hope and a positive future.

Thanks to Joe for producing this fantastic piece of art to raise awareness of our work and to all our supporters who help make this work possible.

Written by: Jo Duckles