Category Description
Find out more about this category, previous winners, the judges and how you can encourage our Next Gen leaders to enter HERE.
We are looking for the next young person who has 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: 28 April 2023), then you can submit an entry to this free-to-enter category, sponsored by Canon EMEA.
Judges will award winners from two different age groups** (under 16s and under 21s) and will consider applications from more than one candidate per entry, e.g. where siblings, friends or groups have worked together to champion change.
To enter, you will need to submit up to 1000 words and up to six images to tell your story; with a stronger emphasis on the story over the images. Images must be actual photos (not of slides, diagrams, screenshots of video calls etc) and will be either taken by or of the Young Champion.
Take a look at these icons below… you’re probably supporting one of these Global Goals without even realising it… these are the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs).
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.
If you are under 18, an adult will need to submit the entry on your behalf, however, we want the story to be told as best as possible from the Young Champion themselves. So, if they are too young to write the entry, feel free to use as innovative ways to achieve this as possible (such as Q&As, short video and voice recordings, drawings etc). Submissions can be made by a parent, guardian, company or the charity / organisation in which they are championing / aligning to.
The judges will be looking for a heart-felt story, with supporting photos, showing how you have drawn attention to the issue you are championing. You may submit weblinks to published work or images, social media, or a video* to demonstrate the reach you have gained so far.
To qualify, you must still be actively championing the work associated with your submission and you must be below the age limits of 16 or 21 at the time of the entry deadline of 28 April 2023.
All finalist entries will receive unlimited tickets to the 2023 virtual ceremony in July 2023, a Canon DSLR camera and lens, a certificate and an invitation to join the Global Good Youth Network.
For some ideas and inspiration, see some examples of previous Canon Young Champion winners here and here.
* Any video submitted should not exceed 60 seconds long (unless it supplied with a note to guide the judges on what section to watch). A supporting video is not a requirement, and you will not be judged on the quality of the video, however, if a 3rd party has submitted your application, a video of yourself will help the judges with their evaluation.
** Judges reserve the right to change the age categories based on the number of entries received across the age groups.
Criteria & additional information
You are not being judged on the quality of photos or videos submitted – you will be judged on their ability to help tell your story.
Your submitted photos must support your 1000 words. Judges will be scoring higher for the strength of your initiative or campaign; with less emphasis on the photos themselves. (Scoring will be marked with 75% towards the words and 25% towards the photos).
Entrants must be between 9-21 years old on 28 April 2023. If you are under 18, an adult will need to submit the entry on your behalf.
If you submit any social media posts, please ensure you adhere to social media age restrictions.
Your photos do not need to have been taken on a Canon camera.
The photos can be of either the process of how the entrants have championed their chosen issue, or photos used in the process of championing their chosen issues.
Photos do not have to have been taken by the Young Champion. The Young Champion for example, can be a subject within the photo. They must be photos, not screenshots, PowerPoint slides or diagrams etc.
Any young person enrolled on the Canon Young People Programme in any country are eligible. No relatives of Canon employees are eligible to enter.
Applications must be in English (if you wish to send an application in any other language, please email us prior to submission).
Are we eligible to enter?
Our awards programme is open to all organisations of any kind… companies large and small, charities, not-for-profits, social enterprises, NGOs, membership and accreditation organisations and government departments including local and county councils. We are all about rewarding sustainability practice – in all its forms. So if your organisation is making a difference, directly or indirectly to people and planet, you’re eligible.
We don’t just recognise businesses that are operating responsibly, or supporting / partnering with worthwhile causes. We also actively encourage entries from organisations that have been specifically set up or adapted to offer a product or service that tackles a social or environmental problem.
Our category descriptions and criteria have been written to guide entrants on what content should be detailed in their entries. However, we do not expect square pegs to fit in round holes… Some of your business activities or dedicated programmes might not fit entirely with any one specific category. In these cases, the descriptions and criteria are open to an element of interpretation and rest assured that our judges will still take into account entries that are strongly aligned with the overall context of the category.
If you have any concerns about the suitability of your entry, or would like to discuss your activities in more detail, we are here to help. Give Karen a call on 07813 718541 or email: karen@GlobalGoodAwards.co.uk