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:
To
learn more about the Young People Programme, please visit Canon’s website here.
