ifiwhere_contest_2017

Submission deadline : 12 March 2017.

What would your life be like if you were somebody else? Have you ever imagined stepping into someone else’s shoes? What if that person was living next door? How would you feel? How would you react to a given situation?

Through this contest, you can choose who you would like to be: you can choose to be anyone from your prime minister to your next door baker, and this only with a simple camera.

The concept of If I were…. Which is seeing life through somebody else’s eyes is an exciting way to develop empathy and flexibility, and to take a step towards others. By living such an experience, you envisage new realities and new rationales; you help fight prejudice. As a result, you develop some intercultural competencies.

The contest is launched globally in cooperation with the King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue (KACND) through the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Programme for a Culture of Peace and Dialogue, which has been set within the framework of the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures (2013-2022).

Requirements

“If I were…” invites you to experiment with somebody else’s life through a video (1 minute maximum) or a powerful photo made by yourself to illustrate your feelings if you were this person. Change your perspective and express yourself differently. A life-experience that you will never forget!

If you are between 21 and 30 years old, then you are eligible to participate.

Note : All national or private institutions, organizations, and civil society networks working

with Youth such as the UNESCO Associated Schools–ASPnet, UNESCO Clubs, UNITWIN and others, are welcome to encourage their members to participate in the Contest.

Benefits

The 10 winners will get:

1 mini iPad
1 invitation to the “Second International Conference on Youth volunteering and dialogue: Preventing violent extremism and strengthening social inclusion” at UNESCO, in Paris, 12-14 April 2017 (travel and accommodation paid by UNESCO)
An international recognition and exposure of your work on UNESCO’s website

How to proceed

Step 1.

Think about a person different from you, from a different cultural or social background. Pick

someone that you know or invent a character that you could meet in your neighborhood, your city or country.

Step 2.

Conduct research (interviews, on the web, reading, etc.) to understand, without being

judgmental, her or his context.

Step 3.

Take a digital camera or a mobile phone and use your creativity and flexibility to show your

capacity to empathize in such a situation through a powerful photo or a video (1 min-maximum). Put your character in an everyday situation and reflect her/his feelings through a meaningful visual art expression. The narrative, if any, should be in English, French, Spanish or Arabic. If you are among the winners, you will have to subtitle your video in English.

Step 4.

Fill up the application in which you will attach your photo or video link.

Key dates:

February 2017 : Contest kick off

12th March 2017 : Submission deadline

March 2017 : Announcement of the 10 winners on UNESCO’s website

12-14 April 2017 : Award ceremony at the “Second International Conference on Youth volunteering and dialogue : Preventing violent extremism and strengthening social inclusion”

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the UNESCO If I were… Global Youth Video/Photo Contest 2017

UNESCO If I were… Global Youth Video/Photo Contest 2017 for Young People Worldwide (Fully Funded to Paris, France)