Inspiring pictures of education in action by global youth contest winners

The challenge: take a picture inside or outside of the classroom that shows how education can help sustainable development or encourage children to become global citizens.

UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report launched its 2017 youth photo competition just over a month ago and received hundreds of inspiring images.

They showed ideas linked to youth, schools, literacy, skills and the world of work among young members of the community.

The winning picture was by Domyson Dulay Abuan, titled “Lens of Sustainable Education”.

The photo shows a grade six student from an elementary school in Laguna, Philippines, who has used recycled materials to build a makeshift camera.

Domyson said the students are learning information and communications technology (ICT) skills, which are “relevant to present and future times”.

He added: “Their access to ICT tools will serve as their portal towards globalisation. It is also the window that would show them the relevant issues faced by their community and the world.”

The second winning photograph was submitted by Ysabel Victoriano, with her “My first bike ride”.

The photo shows children playing on a wooden scooter in Banaue, Ifugao, in the Philippines.

Ysabel said: “Years ago the bike was used to deliver crops from the mountain, but today it is used as a form of enjoyment that children share with their parents – passing on a culture from one generation to the next.”

The third winner is Rahul Saha with his image of “Solar Power”.

The photo shows a child speaking on a cell phone at a brick field in a remote village of Birbhum in West Bengal, India. 

The cell phone is charged through a newly distributed solar panel as there is no conventional electricity in the community.