Since 1984 Tilburg has a city partnership with Matagalpa (Nicaragua). Contributing to global awareness has always been the main goal of this partnership.

The Nicaraguan murals that have been created in Tilburg from 1988 always have a specific social theme, a specific Global Goal.

The process of creating the murals is different from usual, but still ‘unique’ and with surprising results. About a week before the painter arrives the children make free drawings on a set theme. The artist then selects elements from these drawings and combines them into a total design, which is to appear on the wall. After that the children paint the wall (or the panels that will be on the wall) in small groups under enthusiastic Nicaraguan guidance. The most important thing is of course the learning and making process of the students with a ‘stranger’ from a ‘faraway country’, an experience that the young people will take with them for the rest of their lives.

These containers were painted by artist Rafaël, together with pupils from the Cleijn Hasselt primary school.