What is the Canon Young Champion of the Year Award?

The Canon Young Champion of the Year Award is about rewarding young people who have campaigned for a good cause around a social or environmental issue. If you’re passionate about supporting a local or global issue and are between 9-21 years old (at the point of the entry deadline: Fri 3 May 2024), then you can submit an entry to this free-to-enter category, sponsored by Canon EMEA.

Whether it be mental health, cyber-bullying, well-being, environmental sustainability, education, charity activism, animal welfare, diversity & inclusion or any subject linked to the above SDGs, we want to hear how you are making people aware of the issue you are championing.

Visit the category page for the full description and criteria.

Benefits of entering

All finalist entries will receive unlimited tickets to the 2024 virtual ceremony in 2024, a Canon DSLR camera and lens, a certificate and an invitation to join the Global Good Youth Network.

Our previous winners have told us that because of their win, they’ve been given a stronger platform to campaign for their cause. Just read Samuel’s statement here on Page 15! Nabilah Chowdhury also got the opportunity to do a day of filming with Canon, sharing her message across the world. Mir and Mishal from the UAE were invited to Expo 2020 in Dubai and interviewed by the Expo presenters. Just a few examples of the opportunities…

Watch the Cartoon Network video of some of our 2023 finalists and winners!

We were delighted when Cartoon Network (part of Warner Bros Discovery) chose to showcase the Global Good Awards ‘Canon Young Champion’ 2023 finalists Olivia Mandle Navarro, Jodie Bailey-Ho, and winner Raheen Fatima for their outstanding contributions in the fight against climate change.

The girls were interviewed about their journeys as activists, sharing their inspirational stories and real insights on how they overcame challenges. They talked about taking those first steps and showed how every kid around the world can become a Climate Champion, and achieve more than they ever imagined.

Cartoon Network will leverage its reach and platforms to showcase Olivia, Jodie, and Raheen, with the aim of inspiring an audience of younger 6-11 year olds, demonstrating how even the smallest changes can make a big difference. The interviews will air on Cartoon Network channels and be available to stream on HBO Max across EMEA in 2024.

You can watch the final cut here.

Register your interest to enter

If you are interested in entering, or you would like to enter on someone’s behalf, please complete the following information*:

*Rest assured that all contact information is only used internally and NEVER given to 3rd parties.

Register on the entry system or continue your entry

If you are ready to start your entry, or continue with a saved draft, click on the button below.

Previous Winners

The Canon Young Champion has been running since 2020. To see who the previous winners were, click on any of the images below.

Encourage our Next Gen leaders to enter!

We’ve created an easy to follow toolkit to help you to spread the word and encourage our Next Gen leaders to enter. You can download it here.

The Judging Panel

Six judges will be confirmed; three for Young Champion of the Year and three for Young People Programme Partner of the Year (the latter open only to Canon YPP Partners). You can read about our Judges on the main Judging Panel page.

Steve Kenzie | Executive Director, UN Global Compact Network UK

Laura El-Tantawy | Documentary Photographer & Canon Ambassador

Hassan Raja | Former Canon Young People Programme Participant