At Cartoon People, we are proud to continue our yearly community mural initiative, a project that goes beyond painting large-scale public artworks. These murals are created with the community, by the community — empowering people to raise their voices, share their stories, and take ownership of something truly meaningful. Thanks to the generous support of our partners, these projects have become powerful platforms for both visual storytelling and social awareness. We believe community art is not merely a form of beautification — it is acatalyst for awareness, dialogue, and grassroots action. By bringing people together to create, we begin to shape change where it matters most: at the ground level. Here’s a look at a few of our community mural projects from the past few years:
Breathe Easy, Dhaka!
A community mural project by Cartoon People in collaboration with The World Bank In this inspiring initiative, students from Khilgaon Girls’ School joined hands with Cartoon People artists to reimagine a cleaner, greener Dhaka. Together, they transformed their school wall into a vibrant 2000-square-foot mural — a hopeful vision of a future with clean air, blue skies, and a healthier city.
The mural is located at Jagoroni Youth Club Field, near Khilgaon Girls’ School, and it’s open for all to experience. The project was jointly inaugurated by Ms. Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Honorable Adviser, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Ms. Gayle Martin, The World Bank Bangladesh Country Director (Interim). They were joined by students, local community members, and young artists from Cartoon People — all of whom brought this project to life.
Unsung Heroes
A Tribute to Dhaka’s Waste Workers In 2023, in collaboration with Shakti Foundation, MetLife Foundation, and Dhaka North City Corporation, Cartoon People transformed a garbage storage facility in Mirpur into a striking mural that celebrates the everyday heroes of our city — garbage collectors.
Located near the historic Jallad Khana Boddhobhumi, this once-overlooked depot now features a vibrant mural portraying waste workers with dignity, humanity, and pride. Often invisible in the fabric of the city, these individuals play a critical role in maintaining urban life — and now, their contributions are honored through public art.
This initiative is part of Cartoon People’s larger mission to reclaim neglected public areas — transforming them into vibrant community spaces that people feel connected to and take pride in.
What began as a simple beautification effort quickly became a viral moment. It marked the first time artwork had ever been done on a waste facility in Dhaka — and the public response was overwhelming. People stopped to take photos, recorded TikTok videos, and shared the story across social media, helping the mural and its message reach far beyond the neighborhood.
Take Back the Streets
Celebrating Women’s Empowerment Through Art In celebration of International Women’s Day 2020, Cartoon People, in collaboration with Plan International Bangladesh, launched a powerful community art initiative titled “Take Back the Streets”. The project brought together young voices to portray Girls’ Leadership for Equality — a message urgently needed and boldly delivered through public murals and graffiti.
On March 8, 2020, the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University became the heart of this movement. The campus transformed into a dynamic open-air studio, as young artists — mostly students — gathered to express their visions of an equal world through art. Murals emerged rapidly, portraying bold, empowered women across backgrounds, ages, and professions — all united by a common thread: leadership, strength, and the right to equality.
The event was not just a celebration, but a call to action — encouraging women from all walks of life to reclaim public spaces and assert their rightful place in leadership. It was also a platform to amplify the voices of youth, who demanded a world where everyone, regardless of gender, enjoys equal rights and opportunities.
“This was our final public mural and open community gathering before the pandemic lockdown began,” notes a team member from Cartoon People. “In hindsight, it feels even more meaningful — because it was a collective moment of hope, strength, and solidarity before the world changed.”
