UNESCO Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads Photo Contest 2025

Omran Aburayya
3 days ago
2 min read

If you're a young photographer passionate about cultural heritage and storytelling, the UNESCO Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads Photo Contest 2025 is your opportunity to shine. Now in its 7th edition, this international competition invites youth aged 14 to 25 to capture the essence of the Silk Roads through their lenses. The 2025 theme, “Women, Guardians of Silk Roads Heritage,” focuses on the vital role women play in preserving and transmitting the rich cultural traditions along these historic routes. Entries are open from May 26 to July 20, 2025.

📸 Contest Summary

Location: Global (entries from all countries welcome)
Organizer: UNESCO (Social and Human Sciences Sector, Silk Roads Programme)
Target Group: Youth aged 14–25 worldwide
Award: Professional, semi-professional, and standard digital cameras; publication; exhibition opportunitie
Application Deadline: July 20, 2025, at 23:59:59 (GMT+2)
Eligible To: Individuals aged 14–25 with internet access

🌍 Contest Overview

Organized under UNESCO’s Silk Roads Programme, the contest aims to promote cultural interaction and mutual understanding among youth worldwide. Participants are encouraged to submit photographs that highlight women's contributions to the cultural heritage of the Silk Roads. This includes, but is not limited to:

Women engaged in traditional crafts like weaving, embroidery, ceramics, or pottery
Participation in traditional sports, games, music, dance, or oral storytelling
Involvement in culinary traditions and food production
Roles as writers, educators, artists, merchants, or scientists
Leadership in intercommunity and multicultural gatherings
Portraits capturing cultural identity, resilience, and moments of joy or learning

The Silk Roads encompass regions from East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, through Central Asia, the Middle East, North and Northeast Africa, to Eastern and Southern Europe. Participants who have lived in or traveled through these areas are especially encouraged to share their perspectives.

🏆 Contest Benefits

Prizes:
- First Place: Professional digital camera
- Second Place: Semi-professional digital camera
- Third Place: Standard-model digital camera
Publication: Approximately 60 top photos will be featured in the professional photo album “Youth Lens on the Silk Roads.”
Exhibitions: Selected photographs may be showcased in exhibitions worldwide.
Recognition: Winners will receive international exposure and acknowledgment from UNESCO.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Open to individuals aged 14 to 25, regardless of nationality.
Participants must have access to the internet.
Employees of UNESCO, the China World Peace Foundation, and their immediate family members are not eligible.
Participants under 18 must submit a parental consent form.
All photographs must be original and taken by the participant; AI-generated or enhanced images are prohibited.

📝 Application Procedure

Create an Account:
- Visit the official contest website to register.
Submit Photographs:
- Upload 1 to 20 photographs in JPEG or JPG format.
- Each photo must be at least 1,500 pixels wide (horizontal) or tall (vertical).
- Provide a caption for each photograph.
Parental Consent:
- Participants under 18 must upload a signed parental consent form.
Deadline:
- Ensure all submissions are completed by July 20, 2025, at 23:59:59 (GMT+2).