Shoot Nations: A Global Photography Project for Young People Aged 11 to 25

Plan UK [United Kingdom] invites young people aged 11 - 25 from anywhere in the world to upload photos or drawings on the theme 'City Living'. Plan and its partner, photographic organisation Shoot Experience, hope to see representations on issues and on experiences of growing up in the 21st century. The competition sponsors encourage entries that represent a  range of creativity from young people of both the global North and South on issues affecting young people all around the world, including "the challenges of an increasingly urban world. Whether living in the country, town or big city, [the competition seeks] to build a global picture of what urban environments mean to young people. Are the streets paved with gold? Or are they fraught with risk and difficulty? And how do the challenges of growing up in the city differ as a boy or a girl? The competition will also focus on the movement and impact on the people and places left behind."

Topics or briefs to explore include:

1. What does 'city' mean to you?
2. Growing up in the city as a boy or a girl
3. Country-to-city, city-to-country - people on the move

Prizes, as listed on the Shoot Nations website, will be awarded in the following categories.

• All ages:
  1. Best Overall Photo Worldwide
  2. Best Overall Photo UK only
  3. Best Overall Drawing Worldwide
     
• Best Photo per Brief in each age group, 11-16 and 17-25.

Enter up to three photos/drawings per topic, and upload entries with a caption to explain what each photo is about. Uploaded entries have the opportunity to be exhibited at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, New York, United States (US), for International Youth Day, as well as online at the Plan UK education website. The UK winner must be available to travel to New York on August 12 2010 and hold a valid UK passport or US visa. UK passport holders do not require a visa. Check the US embassy website for more information.

Plan UK and Shoot Experience are asking youth participation professionals, who are involved in participation and creative/expressive work with groups of youth in any context to connect youth with the opportunity offered by this competition.