From collaborations with UNESCO to counter hate speech, to win the UN Development Program (UNDP) Social Entrepreneurship Summit Grant In 2021, Abdallat will dedicate himself to supporting youth participation in civic life.
Omar Abdallat takes a selfie with the participants of one of his cartoon workshops.
UN News spoke with Abdallat about his journey into cartooning, the role of art in crisis situations, and why he believes even the smallest drawing can spark a global conversation.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
UN News: What first attracted you to cartoons? And what does it mean to you?
Omar Abdallat: I started drawing as a child, copying characters from cartoon television shows and comics, but it was in college when I realized it could be something more.
I started drawing my teachers and then started sharing my cartoons online on Arab cartoonist websites. It was great to have people see my work, respond and get feedback.
Over time, it became my profession, but more than that, it became a lifestyle.
Cartoons make me think about the people around me, about my society. Sometimes I say that cartoons are my religion because I think they make me a better human being.
UN News: When did you first realize that your cartoons could reach people far beyond your own community?
Omar Abdallat: I studied cartoons on my own and what I learned from other artists is the importance of simplicity. So, I try to draw complex themes as if I were drawing them for children.
When I started sharing my work on Facebook that’s when it clicked: people from all over the world responded and reacted. That’s when I understood that cartoons are a language that everyone understands.
UN News: Could you share with us something about any of your work in particular?
Omar Abdallat: For example, one of my most recent works is inspired by classical paintings depicting leaders from Europe and other parts of the world.
The scene shows the wolf, in the form of a ruler, celebrating his dominance over the corral and the sheep, while one of the sheep appears fascinated by the wolf’s charisma.
In countries where there is no genuine transfer of power, the very notion of homeland is distorted. Leadership is reduced to domination and loyalty is transformed from a collective principle to blind obedience.
UN News: It is a very striking image and it really reflects your activism, which you have developed both through your cartoons and your initiatives. She has worked in many different settings, from public spaces to refugee communities and international forums. What spaces do you find most meaningful to work in?
Omar Abdallat: I find my work with children and young people especially meaningful, particularly those experiencing challenges. It feels like we’re not just drawing, but empowering them through cartoons, to help them believe in their own stories again.
It’s so meaningful to give them this safe space where they can talk about themselves, draw, and gain some confidence.
I always start by telling them the history of cartoons: where they come from, what they mean. Then I teach them how to draw step by step. Once they have the basics, we start talking about deeper things like their rights, the environment, the way they imagine the future.
My dream is to turn this into a global movement, to bring cartoons to all the children who may need them, especially in places like Gaza, where being a child can be so difficult.
UN News: Do they ever surprise you with their perspectives?
Omar Abdallat: Some children are very talented. Through their cartoons, you can better understand their culture, their origins, and sometimes their problems.
They share about racism, poverty and hate speech. In return, I do everything I can to improve your understanding of these topics.
UN News: Do you consider cartoons to be a kind of healing?
Omar Abdallat: I believe in cartoons as a lifestyle. It is the air we breathe. It’s the way we understand things.
When the Charlie Hebdo tragedy occurred ten years ago, I remember thinking: we need a humanitarian version of that spirit: a platform that unites rather than divides.
That idea became the seed for something I’m still working on today: a “Cartoon Lab,” a network of academies where children and adults can safely express themselves through art.
UN News: As you have explained, cartoons can touch on sensitive topics. Have you ever faced challenges or resistance to your work?
Omar Abdallat: Challenge is my middle name! I used to hide this but now I say it out loud. Some of them are due to the Middle East environment, others due to technology.
In the Middle East, you can feel afraid for your life and the lives of your children. In general, it is not easy to be a cartoonist here.
UN News: How to keep hope alive?
Omar Abdallat: One of the things I learned from my late father, who was a doctor, is that he never let a patient go until he was fighting for his life. That is our duty in life: to help the people around us improve.
I want people who see my work to be themselves and give their best to the world, to put aside their differences and believe in our common humanity.
When darkness comes, the sun still rises. Every winter has a spring. It’s part of nature. You just have to hold on long enough to see it.