(MENAFN- Mid-East.Info)
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Canon Young People Programme has partnered with United Nations Development Programme to run a creative storytelling workshop at expo 2020 Dubai.
The creative storytelling workshop took place recently at the @UNHub within the Opportunity Pavillion at Expo 2020 Dubai. It was a collaborative event organised by the Arab region Youth Arts & music Initiative (AYAMI) from the United Nations Development Programme for Arab States.
Canon Ambassador Laura El-Tantawy was invited by AYAMI to deliver her storytelling workshop in-person to young people from Lebanon and the UAE after her successful virtual workshop during the UN SDG Festival of Action in March. Commenting on the experience, Laura said:“Expo 2020 and Canon's YPP have provided me with the perfect platform to share my journey as a photographer to inspire the youth. Canon, through various initiatives and projects, has been relentless in equipping the younger generation with tools and opportunities to use the power of visual storytelling to share their stories and that of their communities to a broader audience. It is a great honour to contribute to this endeavor.”
Supporting Laura at the workshop from Canon EMEA were Adam Pensotti , Head of the Young People Programme and Jeanine El Moughrabi , Regional Sustainability Engagement Lead, while Amani Semaan and Maya Beydoun attended from the UNDP Arab States.
Maya, Project Manager AYAMI UNDP Arab States, said:“One of our main objectives at the UNDP is to raise the awareness of the youth about the importance of the SDGs. In doing so, it is important to ensure that the space or platform is something interactive and within their interests. For instance, AYAMI uses music and arts to fulfil these goals. Meanwhile, Canon leverages visual storytelling to convey impactful messages. Through this workshop, we are giving them the chance to translate their ideas into plans and execute tangible actions.“
Adam Pensotti said,“It's fantastic to be able to attend Expo Dubai and get involved in such a hands-on session, working to educate and inspire future generations on the power of storytelling. Sharing the Canon Young People Programme at this global event is an enormous privilege and provides these young people with a great opportunity to communicate about the issues that matter to them; the camera is an amazing tool for storytelling, enabling us all to share our personal stories and inspire others.”
The workshop is part of the Canon EMEA Young People Programme, founded upon the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and giving young people across the region inspiration, education and empowerment to express themselves on the issues that most affect them in their lives.
Eiman, one of the participants, commented:“Being a media student, photography has long been a part of my interests and I am grateful for workshops like this as they help me explore the various aspects of this field. Content, something I consider as very vital, is a focus on this photography workshop. Understanding what I am photographing and how it will impact others, are just as crucial as the technical or aesthetic aspects of photography. Thanks to this workshop, it provided me with a new perspective and deeper understanding of significant contents.”
Canon was involved in other initiatives at Dubai Expo this year including:
- ' Supporting youth through the creative approach – Climate action & the environment ' that took place on the 15th October and discussed the South Africa Young People Programme project with local NGO Wild Shots Outreach
- ' Next Gen | The Places You'll Go: Imagining the Perfect City of Tomorrow ' that took place on 4th November and featured Neville Ngomane, Young Environmental Photographer of the Year (2019) and Young People Programme South Africa participant
- ' Next Gen | Bridging the Divide: Bringing Bold Change with Wisdom ' that was hosted on 18th November and featured Young People Programme participant Hassan Raja on the panel
About Canon Middle East:
Canon Middle East, a subsidiary of Canon Europe, is the operational headquarters for Canon in the Middle East is based in Dubai, UAE.
Founded in 1937, the desire to continuously innovate has kept Canon at the forefront of imaging excellence throughout its 80-year history and has commitments to invest in the right areas and capture growth opportunities. From cameras to commercial printers, and business consultancy to healthcare technologies, Canon enriches lives and businesses through imaging innovation.
Canon's corporate philosophy is Kyosei– 'living and working together for the common good'. In EMEA, Canon Europe pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon's products, solutions and services.
Canon invests heavily in R&D to deliver the richest and most innovative products and services to satisfy customers' creative needs. From amateur photographers to professional print companies, Canon enables each customer to realize their own passion for image.
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