Ashraf Abo Arafe
The European Union (EU) Delegation to Egypt launches its photography competition for the 12th year in a row. The competition is considered as part of the EU support to the Egyptian cultural scene and in promoting talents, as well as highlighting the various activities under the bilateral cooperation between the EU and Egypt.
The competition is held this year under the theme “Egyptian Women Champions”. Women and girls are a key strength of the society and a driving force for Egypt’s development in all fields. Documenting their empowerment and spotlighting their individual and collective success stories is essential, and indeed their inherent right.
Building stable, prosperous, and inclusive societies requires the full participation of women. This commitment to gender equality is fully reflected in the EU-Egypt partnership priorities, jointly adopted in 2017.
“Through this year’s theme, we celebrate Egyptian women and girls and the valuable, irreplaceable contributions they make in advancing ‘Om al Dunia’, Masr,” says Ivan Surkoš, Ambassador of the EU to Egypt.
The theme of this year is content-rich in a way that encourages all participants to capture creative images. Photographers are invited to take part in recording and documenting the role Egyptian women and girls play in bringing about progress in fields as diverse as sports, economy and business, the social domain, arts and culture, science, or leadership roles both at local and national levels.
The competition is open to all photographers living in Egypt who do not receive a major part of their income from photography. The EU Delegation to Egypt offers prizes to the first three winners. The Delegation’s 2020 desk calendar will feature the top 12 photos. An awards ceremony and an exhibition featuring the top 30 photos will be held.
The deadline for submission is Thursday 24 October 2019. Photographers wishing to participate can apply online. Full details on rules and regulations of the competition can be found on the Delegation’s website.
