Giga Photo Contest

Daniel Ginsianmung and Nobuntu Ndlovu of Giga write about a new opportunity for emerging photographers.

Photography, when paired with the internet, connects us with the world. The Giga Photo Contest 2025 celebrates this connection.

Launched on April 1, 2025, the contest calls for photographs and stories on “The Joy of Connection.” The aim is to amplify youth voices from the Global South and show the impact of internet access.

The contest seeks to establish a global visual voice that recognises connectivity as a fundamental human right.

About Giga

Giga is a partnership between UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union. It works to connect every school to the internet and every young person to information, opportunity, and choice.

Since 2019, Giga and its partners have mapped over 2.2 million schools. They have increased connectivity for more than 24,000 schools, benefiting about 11 million students.

Why connectivity matter?

Half of the world’s schools remain offline. Over 1.3 billion children lack internet access at home. For many remote and underserved communities, the local school provides a hub for internet service. School connectivity opens the door to knowledge and learning vital digital skills. It also acts as a catalyst for local economic development.

Giga Photo Contest-Junior Visual Storyteller category

Our inaugural contest features three categories: Single Image, Junior Visual Storyteller, and Multiple Image. The Junior Visual Storyteller category is open to photographers under 18. This category encourages young photographers to express their vision and creativity. It provides a platform for them to share their perspectives on connectivity.

Participation in this category offers several benefits. It empowers young photographers by sharing their vision and fosters a sense of community among young photographers.

Encouraging parents, teachers, and mentors to support young photographers in submitting their entries. This contest is an opportunity for children to explore their creativity, showcase their visual voice and receive long-term mentorship as awards.

Giga Photo Mentorship Programme

As part of this initiative, Giga launched the Giga Photo Mentorship Programme. This pilot project in Sri Lanka involved 15 young participants. They received guidance to explore and document how internet connectivity affects lives. The week-long program trained these youths in participatory photography and storytelling. The goal was to create advocacy opportunities by sharing their stories with the community, policymakers, and the media. These stories show the transformative power of technology and connectivity.

This initiative advocates for greater access to digital connectivity. They remind us that connectivity is not just about technology. It is about the connections we make, the opportunities we create, and the future we build together.

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