The Canon Young Champion of the Year Award recognises young leaders who are driving positive change across any area of sustainability and use their examples to encourage others to take action.
Canon EMEA, the world’s leading imaging company, is partnering with1 sustainability focused award programme the Global Good Awards for the fourth year running. Alongside the annual Canon Young Champion of the Year category, Canon has introduced a new education focused award category, which will recognise organisations that have rolled out Canon’s Young People Programme. Entries for the Canon Young Champion and Education category open today.
The Canon Young Champion of the Year Award recognises young leaders who are driving positive change across any area of sustainability and use their examples to encourage others to take action. The award started as an extension of Canon EMEA’s Young People Programme (https://apo-opa.info/3YPdpgh), which gives young people the knowledge, skills and confidence to tackle sustainability issues that matter to them using creativity and critical thinking.
Last year, Nabilah Chowdhury won the under 21 category (https://apo-opa.info/3YuzocG) and was recognised for her climate change activism, organising climate strikes in Sydney as well as debating the issue as a UN Youth delegate. She has since continued her campaigning and was recently invited back to the UK Canon office to receive a prize DSLR camera and share her inspiring work. Peter Bragg, Canon EMEA Sustainability & Government Affairs Director said “We’re happy to be sponsoring the Global Good Awards for the fourth year running. We look forward to seeing applications come in over the next months demonstrating the hard work and achievements of young sustainability campaigners, schools and NGO’s.“
To determine this year’s Canon Young Champion of the Year Award winner, an inspiring bench of judges have been announced including art activist and Dianna Award winner, Ally Zlatar, Sustainability advisor and author of Be the Change Books, Georgina Stevens, and photographer and Canon Ambassador, Laura El Tantawy.
Additionally, Canon is launching the YPP Partner of the Year Award, which will celebrate the work of education partners who have held a Canon Young People Programme starting in 2022. Steve Kenzie, Executive Director UN Global Compact Network UK, joins the panel of judges, using his expertise in connecting global organisations to drive the SDGs to assess applications from schools and NGO’s that have delivered imaging workshops in collaboration with Canon. Alongside Steve on the judging panel for the education category is Hassan Raja, former Canon Young People Programme participant and now Digital Comms Officer for the Mayor of London.
The Canon category winners will be showcased alongside other GGA award winners at the virtual awards ceremony on 12th July and will be included in a GGA Winners’ event on 12th October, which will bring the 2023 finalists together from all backgrounds to discuss how we make positive change.
Details on the Canon Young Champion of the Year category
The award is open in two categories – under 16s and under 21s – both of which are free to enter and welcome entries from participants of Canon Youth Programmes and for external youth activists. Judges will consider applications from more than one candidate per entry, for example where groups or siblings have worked together to campaign for a good cause. Entries are open now (https://apo-opa.info/3jWcziX) and will close on 28 April 2023.
To apply, entrants must submit up to 1,000 words and as many six captioned images that tell their story and the change they’ve been working towards. Using the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (https://apo-opa.info/3DYSf7i) as a guide, entries may focus on any form of social and environmental sustainability activism, whether it’s a local community project or a large, global initiative.
Winners of the Young Champion Award will receive tickets to the virtual Global Good Awards ceremony as well as a Canon EOS 250D camera, kit lens and 50mm lens. Shortlisted finalists will also receive a Canon EOS 4000D camera, kit lens and a certificate. The winner of the Education Award will win an award trophy and certificate.
Entrants may submit an entry for themselves if they are over 18, or alternatively they can be nominated by a parent, guardian, company, or the charity or organisation which they are working with.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).
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About Canon Central and North Africa:
Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2015 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region – by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.
Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.
Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei (https://apo-opa.info/3xeczh6) – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.