UNESCO Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads photo contest

This year, the theme of the 6th edition is “Life Celebrations”, inviting young photographers to explore and capture the essence of cultural celebrations along the historic Silk Roads.

UNESCO calls on young people around the world, aged 14 to 25 years old, to pick up their cameras and send their best photos to the 6th edition of our Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads contest. 

The UNESCO Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads photo contest, part of the Organization’s Silk Roads Programme of the Social and Human Sciences Sector, promotes photography as a tool for encouraging cultural interaction, fostering mutual understanding, and promoting peace among the people living in the regions connected by the Silk Roads.

This year, the theme of the 6th edition is “Life Celebrations”, inviting young photographers to explore and capture the essence of cultural celebrations along the historic Silk Roads. This theme is more relevant than ever in the current global landscape marked by escalating conflicts, economic instability, and the climate crisis, where young people are facing unprecedented levels of discouragement. Visually capturing and celebrating life also aims to engage youth in positive and hopeful paths and create a digital space to foster this mindset.

Photographers exploring the theme of “Life Celebrations” along the Silk Roads might capture the following:

Birth and Naming ceremonies.

Heartfelt commemorations of anniversaries symbolising the passage of time and the endurance of relationships.

Symbolic rites of passage ceremonies.

Colourful and festive engagement ceremonies and weddings showcasing cultural traditions and the union of families.

Traditional and modern celebrations of seasonal transitions, such as Spring or Autumn Festivals, such as Nowruz, and harvest festivals, reflecting the cyclical nature of life and the rhythms of nature.

Events and celebrations: including rituals, festivals, and pilgrimages that honour spiritual beliefs and cultural heritage.

Photo entries will be examined by an International Selection Committee composed of the following photographers: GMB Akash (Bangladesh), Fatimah Hossaini (Afghanistan), Liang Li (China), Mustafa Seven (Türkiye), and Osama Silwadi (Palestine).