Study finds creative storytelling boosts confidence and career prospects for young people

Photography and visual storytelling can significantly increase self-esteem, motivation and employability among young people, according to a ten-year independent study of Canon’s international youth programme

Creative self-expression through photography can measurably improve confidence, resilience and job prospects among young people, new research suggests.

A study by the University of Northampton found that longer participation directly correlates with higher levels of self-belief, adaptability and community engagement.

Researchers also reported wider effects, including stronger social connections, better teamwork and new routes into employment across media, conservation and tourism.

The research by the university’s Institute for Social Innovation and Impact evaluated a decade of the Canon Young People Programme (CYPP), which teaches visual storytelling and digital skills to tackle local social and environmental issues.

Since 2015, CYPP has worked with more than 40 charities and community groups in 36 countries, engaging over 10,000 young people.

The ISII report described its collaboration between corporations, NGOs and universities as a model for effective social-impact partnerships.

One participant, Rifumo Mathebula, now Programme Director at Wild Shots Outreach near South Africa’s Kruger National Park, said: “When I first joined the Canon Young People Programme through Wild Shots Outreach, I had never held a camera and knew almost nothing about conservation.

“I discovered I had a passion for storytelling and felt a responsibility to protect the natural world around me. Today, I’m teaching the next generation… The programme gave me a voice, a purpose and the belief that we can all be changemakers in our communities.”

Canon said it now plans to expand the model through longer-term and country-specific programmes to reach more young people worldwide.

Adam Pensotti, Head of the Canon EMEA Young People Programme, added: “At a time when many young people across the world are grappling with a multitude of different pressures, this research is proof that creative empowerment can be a lifeline.

“For 10 years, the programme has shown that when you give young people the tools, skills, and trust to tell their own stories, they can change their lives and their communities for the better. This helps to strengthen communities, influence change and inspire the next generation of leaders.

“In partnership with Northampton University, we’ve explored and uncovered just how impactful and far-reaching initiatives such as CYPP can be.”

READ MORE: ‘Study links female-dominated classrooms to higher lifetime earnings for women’. Research by Durham University Business School and the University of Basel suggests that girls surrounded by more female peers at school are more likely to enter better-paid careers and narrow the gender pay gap.

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_{Main image, credit: Canon Central and North Africa}