The Canon x Dikan Story: Using Photography to Inspire, Educate, and Empower

In September 2023, the Dikan Center welcomed 10 eager students from schools in the local Labadi community to participate in the Canon Young People’s Program (YPP), a partnership with Canon that marked the official launch of the program in Africa. The goal of the collaboration is to empower the next generation of creative young people to address sustainability concerns through photography, innovation, and critical thinking.

The partnership was born from Canon’s recognition of the Dikan Center’s work in visual storytelling and education. This unique opportunity aligned Canon’s mission of creating opportunities for young African talent with the Dikan Center’s goals, and presented a valuable avenue to harness visual storytelling as a resource to foster social change.

For 10 weeks, students received comprehensive technical training in photography and a thorough education on the value of sustainability for the future, through the framework of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Under the guidance of a certified Canon photographer and experienced photography educators, students learned the intricacies of using a camera, developed their sense of composition, and mastered editing techniques. Empowered to become storytellers for sustainable change, students selected specific SDGs and captured evocative imagery to convey their personal narratives. Through guided classroom sessions, interactive technical lessons, critical thinking skills development, and hands-on practical assignments, students embarked on a transformative journey to harness the power of visual storytelling.

The partnership with Canon elevated the learning experience, providing tools and skills to address real-world challenges while fostering creativity and innovation. Students gained confidence in their abilities to use photography as a powerful tool for social change and expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the program.

As these budding photographers captured the essence of their stories within the inspiring setting of the Dikan Center, the Canon YPP equipped them with the skills to make a transformative impact in their communities. The initiative garnered positive responses from the students, highlighting the chance to raise their voices, learn, and bring their ideas to help others. The collaboration culminates in a curated exhibition of the students’ works during an end-of-year event organized by Dikan Center in December 2023. The exhibition will showcase the remarkable narratives captured by the participants, demonstrating the power of visual storytelling to inspire and drive positive change.