PONTREMOLI, Italy, Sept. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — vivo and the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme have introduced the 2026 Seize the Future: International Youth Storytelling Initiative for Individuals and Nature to its last chapter with a five-day Co-Creation Camp within the Appennino Tosco Emiliano Biosphere Reserve, held from August 31 to September 5 and bringing collectively 15 younger creators from around the globe.
Chosen via the initiative’s international open name, the scholars, younger photographers and visible storytellers got here collectively in Italy to discover the connection between individuals and nature via immersive subject experiences, expert-led classes and collaborative visible storytelling. Utilizing vivo smartphones, they created authentic photograph essays and brief movies.
vivo and UNESCO MAB Carry Younger Voices Collectively in Italy to Seize the Future
From a world name to a shared artistic journey
Launched by vivo and UNESCO MAB in March 2026, Seize the Future invited younger individuals to share visible tales in regards to the relationship between individuals and nature in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. The worldwide name acquired 745 submissions from younger individuals in 98 international locations, with tales linked to greater than 120 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves throughout the World Community.
The initiative’s attain prolonged past the worldwide name as effectively. In April, a sequence of capacity-building workshops introduced visible storytelling and the people-and-nature theme to college students from Penang Hill in Malaysia to the College of Alexandria in Egypt, earlier than culminating in a session on the College of Milan — participating greater than 600 college students.
The Co-Creation Camp marked the fruits of this year-long journey. Guided by a multidisciplinary mentor crew together with vivo imaging skilled Keshav Chugh, UNESCO MAB communication specialist Manoel Giffoni, ZEISS Ambassador Solli Kanani and award-winning movie director Marko Roth, the 15 chosen creators explored the landscapes, biodiversity, traditions and communities of the Appennino Tosco Emiliano Biosphere Reserve, turning their observations and experiences into authentic visible tales.
“This expertise allowed me to seize my impressions of the previous, the current and the way forward for the Biosphere Reserves. All of us discovered a standard which means inside completely different realities and this connection will keep deep in my coronary heart.”
— Lea Meny, Germany
“What touched me most was their curiosity, openness, and powerful connection to their very own locations and communities. Lots of their tales are deeply private, whereas additionally related to greater questions on nature, tradition, and the long run.”
— Solli KANANI, Co-Creation Camp Mentor
From native tales to a world viewers
On September 5, the Camp closed with an exhibition and screening occasion, throughout which members introduced their visible works to native audiences. The tales created in the course of the Camp will proceed their journey past Italy, with chosen works to be shared via vivo and UNESCO MAB’s international platforms. A documentary may even seize the artistic journey and experiences of the younger storytellers.
The winner Lea Meny took these photographs with vivo X300 Extremely
From the worldwide open name and campus workshops to the Co-Creation Camp, Seize the Future has created a platform for younger individuals to look at, create, and share tales about individuals and nature. Because the initiative continues, the work of the visible storytellers will proceed to attach native experiences to a world dialog a few extra sustainable future.
