For Tuncurry resident Jessica Betz, it’s a reality.

After entering a competition, Jessica’s painting, Tomorrow’s Child, will hang in Canberra as part of the Micah Challenge Create to Advocate 08 Exhibition.

The 17-year-old entered the competition after a friend gave her the details.

Established by Make Poverty History and the Micah Challenge Australia, the exhibition is part of the plan to support the millennium development goal to halve global poverty by 2015.

“Tomorrow’s Child was painted to remind us that we can be influential in changing this world and ending extreme poverty,” Jessica said.

“We can give the children of tomorrow a hope and a future. We can make a difference.”

Jessica said she had created the artwork to voice her concern and support for the communities around the world who live in poverty.

“I want to encourage our Australian leaders to do all they can to address extreme poverty and help achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015,” Jessica said.

A list of suggested topics on the competition website inspired Jessica to focus on poverty and hunger.

“I would love to think that because of my small contribution and that of the other artists, a chain of events would be triggered that truly would make poverty history,” Jessica said.

The exhibition aims to raise awareness of global poverty issues and provides an opportunity for artists and students to express their vision for the end of global poverty through art.

The exhibition will be on show at Parliament House from October 6 to November 2.