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What is Shoot Nations?

Now in its third year, Shoot Nations is a photography project involving a global competition for young people, followed by international exhibitions and workshops.

Based on a specific theme, 11-24 year olds are invited to use pictures to show what matters to them, what's wrong or right with their world and how they can make a difference.

Each entrant takes three photos or draws three pictures based on separate aspects of the theme. The site is available in six languages and has posters, resources and printouts for those communities with limited internet access.

Plan's international network ensures widespread interest and young people themselves spread the word to friends and contacts via the internet. The project has broad appeal because adult involvement is not required and because producing pictures can be done instinctively.

Photography is an ideal medium for cross-cultural communication - without the need for language or literacy - as the pictures speak for themselves! The images submitted to the project form a body of work that captures the feelings and opinions of the younger generation all over the world on a given issue.

Shoot Nations 2008

The theme in 2008 was 'Young people in a changing climate,’ giving young people the opportunity to express their views on how their environment is changing and what they want to do about it.

Participants were asked to take three photographs (or draw three pictures) to answer the following briefs:

1. How is climate change affecting your life?
2. Act now - be the change!
3. Your world in the future.

We received over 1500 images from 106 different countries highlighting the global spread of this project and global nature of climate change.

The winners were:
Harald Hinterleitner, 20, Austria, Overall Winner
Lauren Card, 13, USA
Lameck Nyagudi, 24, Kenya
Lára Þórðardóttir, 17, Iceland
Tina Skrlj, 21 Slovenia
Becky Turner, 15, Canada
Zabir Hasan, 19, Bangladesh
Bryle Napay, 16, Philippines, Best Drawing
WIlliam Lyte, 17, UK, Times Online Winner

In August 2008, a Shoot Nations workshop and exhibition tour visited the World Youth Congress in order to raise the voice and opinions of young people in environmental debates. Times Online readers voted for William Lyte to represent the project. William spoke about the project and the importance of youth voice in climate change debates, and to highlight photography as an effective means of communication.

The exhibition was also displayed at the OXO gallery on the South Bank in London for the week surrounding International Youth Day. Over 4000 people viewed the exhibition leaving overwhelmingly positive feedback. Those young enough promised to participate in 2009. Watch this space...

View the 2008 lightbox

Shoot Nations Promotional Booklet

Associated Educational Resources – KS4 lesson plans

Summary Video

Winning Images




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