Category Description
Find out more about this category, previous winners, the judges and how you can encourage our Next Gen leaders to enter HERE.
First and foremost, this is NOT a photography competition. You are asked to submit photos as part of the application, but they do not form part of the scoring criteria.
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: 9 May 2025), then you can submit an entry to this free-to-enter category (with the support of an adult if under 18), sponsored by Canon EMEA.
Judges will award winners from two different age groups (under 17s and under 21s) and will consider applications from more than one person per entry, e.g. where siblings, friends or groups have worked together to champion change.
To enter, you will need to submit up to 1250 words, up to six images and a video of yourself to tell your story; with a stronger emphasis on the story and video 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 and 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 you 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 heartfelt 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 21 or less at the time of the entry deadline of 9 May 2025.
All finalist entries will be invited to join a virtual gathering with all other finalists and Canon representatives in June – this is not part of the application process – just an opportunity to meet the other finalists.
The two winners (one under 21’s and one under 17’s) will receive a Master Class with a Canon Ambassador, certificate and sustainably made medal. Eight further finalists will receive a certificate, sustainably made medal and a joint Master Class with a Canon Ambassador.
For some ideas and inspiration, see some examples of previous Canon Young Champion winners here and here.
Rules & Additional Information
- You must still be 21 or under at the point of the entry deadline: 9 May 2025. Anyone who has turned 22 after that date will be withdrawn.
- Your submitted photos must support your 1250 words. Judges will be scoring higher for the strength of your initiative or campaign; with less emphasis on the photos themselves. (The main application questions and how your answers are scored is below.)
- Photos can either be taken by you, recording visuals of your chosen subject, or taken of you, as the subject being involved within it. They must be photos, not screenshots, PowerPoint slides or diagrams etc. NB: This is not a photo competition.
- Video submitted should not exceed 3 minutes long (unless it supplied with a note to guide the judges on what section to watch). You will not be judged on the quality of the video.
- 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.
- Any young person enrolled on the Canon Young People Programme in any country is 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).
- 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.
- Judges reserve the right to change the age categories based on the number of entries received across the age groups.
Criteria
The following questions form part of the online application form (available when you register to enter here after 3 Feb) and are shown with the percentage value of the overall score available to you. So, please ensure you put more effort into the ones with the higher available scores. This is not the full application; just the questions that carry a scoring opportunity.
- Tell us more about the work you do and why. (20%)
- Include the following information:- what you do, with who (other people or a charity), why is it different (or are you being influenced by another campaigner doing something similar), where did you get your ideas from, WHY are you doing it, how much time per month do you spend doing it.
- Tell us more about the positive impact your activities have had. (35%)
- Include the following information:- social media reach/hits, have you sold any products, delivered talks or workshops (and how many), been recognised by an organisations or charities, received awards, who and how many have been influenced, what countries have you reached.
- Tell us more about the future for your activities and ideas. (15%)
- Include the following information:- What is your vision for the future? How do you think your work will make an impact in the future? Do you allow others to copy your ideas, and do you support them to do so? Has anyone already copied what you’re doing and how do you work together?
- Provide a video of you telling your story to camera. (15%)
- This is to be no more than 3 minutes long, giving a short overview of your activity so the judges can see and hear your passion coming through. This section is particularly important if written English is a challenge for you and/or your entry is being submitted by an adult.
- Provide no more than 6 photos (not screenshots or graphics/slides) of you in action or photos you have taken of your work. (15%)
- Please ensure you include a caption for each one to explain what the photo is about. You will not be judged on the quality of your photos.
We request a total word count of 1250 words +/-10% (excl. supporting docs).