Are you a young changemaker capturing moments of resistance, hope, and political energy? As part of the official launch of the Global Youth Participation Index, the Youth Democracy Cohort is curating a powerful international photography exhibition that celebrates youth activism in all its forms. We invite young people from around the world to submit photos that capture the vibrant, creative, and determined spirit of youth-led political and civic engagement.
Whether you’re documenting a protest, a quiet act of resistance, community organising, or symbolic moments that express the political pulse of your generation, we want to see the world through your lens.
What’s in it for you?
- 15 best photos entries will be selected by an international jury.
- Each selected entry will receive a €250 prize.
- The chosen photos will be printed and showcased in an international exhibition launching in June 2025.
- During the launch, participants of the event will vote for their favourite picture, the two audience favourites will be invited to Brussels for International Democracy Day (15–16 September 2025).
Timeline:
- Deadline to submit your photo: 24 April 2025 at the latest
- Selection and communication with winners: May 2025
- Exhibition launch: June 2025
Application process:
Each applicant may submit only one photo. Important:
- Please ensure that the photo you submit is of high resolution and suitable for large-scale printing (ideally minimum 300 DPI). Low-quality images may be disqualified, even if shortlisted.
- You must be the original author of the submitted photograph. The Youth Democracy Cohort is not responsible for any copyright infringement, and any misuse of third-party content will lead to immediate disqualification.
- Send us your photo and a short caption to explain the context of the photo effectively (max. 150 words) by email to [email protected] with the subject line: “YDC Photography Exhibition – Call for Entries – Application – [Your Name / Surname]”.
- Only 1 photo per participant/application can be submitted.
By applying, you grant the Youth Democracy Cohort non-exclusive rights to use the selected image(s) in our communications and exhibition materials (with full credit to the photographer). An signed agreement will follow for the selected photographs.
Selection Criteria:
Your submission will be reviewed by our jury based on the following:
- Relevance to the Theme (Youth Activism) – Does the photo reflect youth-led political, civic, social, or cultural engagement?
- Storytelling & Emotional Impact – Does the photo evoke emotion or tell a compelling story?
- Artistic & Technical Quality – Is it visually strong, well-composed, and creatively framed?
- Diversity & Representation – Does the photo add to a diverse, inclusive, and representative selection?
- Caption / Context – Does the caption help us understand the moment or action captured?
- The author of the photo should be between 18 and 30 years old.
Meet the Jury:
Ana Mosiashvili
Ana is a Research and Programme Officer at the European Partnership for Democracy. Ana holds a Master’s degree in International Human Rights Law and has hands-on experience in project management, research and advocacy in the fields of meaningful youth participation, youth work, social justice, gender mainstreaming and intersectionality.
Gael Turine
Gaël, born in Nieuport in 1972, is a Belgian documentary photographer and member of Agence VU. He takes photographs around the world, in West Africa, Kabul and Eritrea, and of people struggling against poverty or living in difficult conditions. His work is regularly exhibited and published.
Bitania Lulu Berhanu
Bitania is an award-winning young leader with notable contributions toward the inclusion of youth and women in public policy at regional and global levels. She is currently the youngest Programme Director at Amref Health Africa Global Headquarters, leading the Y-ACT, Youth in Action initiative.
For questions, reach out to us at [email protected]. We can’t wait to see the world through your eyes.