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 Governments today are all too aware of the power and importance of the world's youth population. There is real power in being young and this year this power is being encouraged through a UN backed inititive to showcase the voices of young people all around the world. Shoot Nations 2007 is calling for young people across the world to pick up a camera and take three photographs that follow one of two briefs for consideration by a panel of professional photographers and with the potential to be exhibited at the UN in New York.
The free-to-enter Shoot Nations contest for anyone under the age of 24 opens in June with the theme of how the world’s youth is governed and how young people view the state of the world. A panel of professional photographers will choose their top 48 shots which will be exhibited in the auditorium of the UN’s New York headquarters on International Youth Day, August 12. The competition, now in its second year, is being run by international children’s charity Plan and photography event organisers Shoot Experience. .jpg "Image") Krzysztof (Poland) ©shootexperience.com Project co-ordinator Hamish Mackenzie, from Plan, says: “It’s all about empowering young people to get involved with decision-making and for governments to take their views seriously. The idea is that the smallest community or family issue in the most remote area of the world can be photographed and displayed at the highest level of global government, the UN.” The competition will be judged in two age categories from 11-15 and 16-24 year olds and the closing date for all entries is the 20th July 2007. .jpg "Image") Prisacariu (Romania) ©shootexperience.com This is a great opportunity for young peopel from all backgrounds to have an opinion on their community, their lives and how they fit into the wider picture of a global community. Never mind if you have never taken a photograph before, the focus is on telling an honest story through images and no experience is necessary! Fred Doulton, of the UN’s programme on youth, says: “International Youth Day gives the world an opportunity to recognize the potential of youth, to celebrate their achievements and plan for ways to include them in the development of their societies. “Showcasing young people's ideas on governance through the Shoot Nations project will further help young people to be heard and seen.” The UN showcase will be followed by a touring exhibition and series of workshops in the UK, Germany, Spain, Senegal and India. The two brief's that are on offer are: BRIEF 1 BRIEF 2- What could you do about it? A. Who do you look up to?
- What upsets you? B. Who rules?
- Who listens to you? C. Where are they?
For full information on the competition and details of both Plan and Shoot Experience please visit the competition website www.shootnations.org Best of luck with the competition! The GYC Team .jpg "Image") Tina (Slovenia) ©shootexperience.con .jpg "Image") Tina (Slovenia) ©shootexperience.com |
