Canon Young People Programme empowers UAE young storytellers from Al Ihsan Charity Association

Canon Middle East and Al Ihsan Charity Association commended ten young future creatives at a ceremony held in Ajman to recognize their progress and participation in Canon’s Young People Program (YPP). Participants were lauded for their creative skills and use of tools provided, to tell stories and convey powerful messages through visual media.

This latest success comes as part of a series of workshops held by Canon and conducted by experts under its Young People Programme (YPP), which provides participants with the necessary tools and platform to communicate and highlight their views and stories, all while raising awareness around the UN SDGs.

His Highness Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi, CEO of Al Ihsan Charity, along with Venkatasubramanian Hariharan Managing Director, Canon Middle East and Turkey and representatives from both Canon and Al Ihsan Charity attended the ceremony to congratulate the young participants’ achievements and recognize their involvement in the programme.

Commenting on the partnership and ceremony, his Highness Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi, CEO of Al Ihsan Charity said: “We have always been trying hard to cooperate with ambitious and superior partners in their businesses to share our development goals and aspirations to serve the community and youth. Canon was one of the partners with whom we always aspire to enhance our initiatives and continue to provide everything distinctive to the future youth. Thanks to everyone for participating in this work, and thanks to the future youth who have proven themselves with a high level of responsibility and confidence.”

Venkatasubramanian Hariharan Managing Director, Canon Middle East and Turkey said: “This ceremony is to recognize and celebrate the brilliance of these young storytellers as embodied in their outputs. YPP has served as a platform for them to hone their skills and learn more about the challenges that affect their communities, as well as express their views on these topics through their creative works. We will also showcase these inspiring stories at Expo 2020 for a much-deserved global spotlight”.

This year’s workshops were led by local photographer Maitham Al Aboodi who trained the young participants in photography techniques and Jeanine El Moughrabi, Regional Sustainability Engagement Lead at Canon Middle East, who shared visual storytelling tips. The young participants put their photography skills into practice by capturing pictures that reflect their views on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as gender equality, responsible consumption and production, and quality education, and how these topics impact their lives.  Following the awards ceremony, participants exhibited their work at a gallery during which they shared the stories and vision behind the pictures with his Highness Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi, CEO of Al Ihsan Charity, Venkatasubramanian Hariharan Managing Director, Canon Middle East and Turkey and others in attendance.

Canon will continue to empower young talents through various educational programs and initiatives and provide them with the necessary tools to explore their creativity. In line with this, Al Ihsan Charity received five units of Canon 4000D cameras to further support young photography enthusiasts as they continue developing their skills and exploring how they can spark positive change in their communities.

Since its launch in 2015, the Canon Young People Programme has worked with NGOs in 27 different countries across EMEA to run educational workshops for more than 5,000 young people aged 13-21. Participants were equipped with the skillset and tools to produce work and express their views on various topics related to SDGs and how they relate them to their lives and local communities. Their work has been shown at numerous exhibitions across the region, at UN events, and even used in discussions with lawmakers to support in policy development.

In line with its commitment to further support and empower local talents, the Canon Young People Programme plans to expand its activities across the region, including in Saudi Arabia and Jordan by using a hybrid model which combines in-person and virtual learning. This approach will make the program more accessible to interested participants, as well as ensure their safety.

To learn more about the Young People Programme, please visit Canon’s website: https://en.canon-me.com/sustainability/