The Adobe Foundation Creativity Scholarships program was developed to support the next generation of creative thinkers and propel the future careers of those who create.
The scholarships provide financial support to students who have participated in the Adobe Youth Voices (AYV) program through the network of strategic partners.
AYV is Adobe’s global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative focused on teaching youth from underserved communities the power of creative self-expression and global citizenship. The AYV network includes more than 800 sites in 52 countries.
This scholarship is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE), an independent not-for-profit founded in 1919. IIE is among the world's largest and most experienced international education and training organizations.
Applications must be submitted by April 7, 2013. The application will be closed at 9:00 am Pacific Standard Time (UTC-8) on April 8, 2013. The application can be accessed at www.adobescholarship.com.
Posted by Michelle Yates, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility on February 25, 2013 2:13 PM in Adobe Youth Voices
Adobe believes creativity not only makes the world a more beautiful place, but it is also a critical component to addressing some of the most difficult challenges we face as a society.
The global State of Create report Adobe released last year revealed only one in four people believe they’re living up to their own creative potential. In response, we’ve aimed to address this “creativity gap” by further imbedding creativity into our products, communities and schools.
Through Adobe Youth Voices (AYV), Adobe’s global philanthropic commitment, we’re working to ignite creative confidence in youth by empowering them to find their voice and make it heard. In doing so, we can help them become more active and engaged members of their communities and society at large. As an extension of this commitment, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of this year’s AYV Aspire Awards competition.
Now in its second year, AYV Aspire Awards is a global, online challenge that invites youth to creatively express their vision for driving positive change in local communities. Participants can convey their ideas using a variety of visual storytelling methods, from videos to photo essays. In addition, a new category for this year – the UNICEF Challenge – invites youth to develop a video proposal for a project they’d like to implement.
The Aspire Awards call for entries is now open, and we’re looking forward to kicking-off online voting for the public in late April.
Last year’s entries showcased remarkable talent. Below are a few of our favorites.
It’s an exciting time for us – please check out our AYV site for more info, and keep an eye out for more AYV-related announcements in the coming weeks.
Posted by Michelle Yates, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility
Today we’re excited to kick off audience voting for the Adobe Youth Voices (AYV) Aspire Awards , our annual competition inviting youth around the world to creatively express their vision for driving change in local communities.
Over the past 12 weeks, we’ve received more than 1,100 submissions from 51 countries – a record high! We’ve narrowed the field to 20 finalists in each of our content categories, including animation, documentary, music video, narrative, poetry, photography, collage, and collaboration.
Beginning today through June 8, finalist entries will be showcased on our Aspire Awards website . We encourage you – our community members and supporters – to get involved by helping to select our Audience Award winners. You can cast your vote by viewing, commenting on, sharing, “liking,” tweeting, and retweeting your favorite entries.
During the audience voting period, an international panel of professionals working in art, film, and other
creative fields will additionally select first- and second-place winners
in each content category and a special category for this year – the UNICEF Challenge
– which invites entrants to develop a youth-led project utilizing
innovative digital tools and/or digital engagement to bring positive
change to their communities.
Winners in our standard content categories are eligible to win software, hardware, and a charitable donation to a cause of their choice. In addition, the UNICEF Challenge winners will receive grants valued at up to $40,000(USD), dedicated to implementing the winning project proposals. Winners’ entries from all categories will be featured at distinguished exhibitions, including international film festivals and other arts organization events.
We’ll announce winners in all categories in mid-June and celebrate the winners and their achievements at the 2013 AYV Summit in August.
To learn more about our commitment to igniting creative confidence in youth, visit our Adobe Youth Voices website. And be sure to watch this space to keep up with what’s happening with the AYV Aspire Awards!
The Adobe Foundation today announces the winners of its second annual Adobe Youth Voices (AYV) Aspire Awards, the only online competition inviting youth around the world to creatively express their vision for change in their communities. More than 1,100 submissions from 51 countries were received, and over 830,000 audience votes were cast for the audience choice awards. Winning entries across the competition’s nine categories address a variety of complex social and environmental topics, such as bullying and climate change; they are featured online at youthvoices.adobe.com/awards/.
“The winning projects illustrate the power of creativity and expression among young people, especially when they have access to digital tools that help bring their ideas to life,” said Michelle Yates, Adobe director of corporate social responsibility and Adobe Foundation executive director. “This program focuses on encouraging youth to develop the creative skills that will help them be more deeply engaged in their education in the short term, and better prepared to succeed long term in a rapidly evolving global economy.”
AYV Award entries were invited in eight standard content categories, representing various storytelling methods including animation, music video, documentary, and photo essay. A ninth category, the UNICEF Challenge, gave entrants the opportunity to develop a video proposal for a project they would implement in their local community. An international panel of professionals working in art, film, and other creative fields selected the first- and second-place winners in each standard category, while a panel of international UNICEF experts selected the UNICEF challenge winners.
“Adobe is creating a meaningful opportunity for youth to come together and share digital content that bravely and creatively helps these teens address issues that are important to them,” said Meredith Lavitt, director, Film Forward Initiative, Sundance Institute and 2013 AYV Awards judge. “I’m excited to be involved in an effort that inspires the next generation and sparks a global conversation.”
Winners and affiliated schools/organizations for each standard category receive software, hardware, a trip to attend the 2013 AYV Summit in San Jose, Calif., and a charitable donation to a cause of their choice. The UNICEF Challenge first- and second-place winners receive $40,000 and $30,000 grants, respectively, dedicated to implementing the winning project proposals. In addition to being showcased on the Aspire Awards website, winning entries from all categories will be featured at distinguished exhibitions, including international film festivals and other arts organization events.
2013 winners are:
Animation:
o First Place: Vacant, Dhenzel Obeng, Free the Children, Canada
o Second Place: Nothing is Impossible, Tansy Piar, Bonaire Youth Outreach Foundation, Bonaire
o Audience Choice Award: It Makes A Big Difference, Jeanviêr Janga, Bonaire Youth Outreach Foundation, Bonaire
Documentary:
o Second Place: Life's a Fight, Nkengafac Lekealem, Brian Dunn, Kennedi Caldwell, Christian Chadwell, Appalachian Media Institute, USA
Music Video:
o Second Place: Talking About You, Carlos Eduardo Moreno Bernal, Computer Clubhouse Suba Compartir, Colombia
o Audience Choice Award: Together We Can Do Anything, Angelo Francees, Aaron Francees, Daniel Francees, Dustan Mercelina, Bonaire Youth Outreach Foundation, Bonaire
Poster Campaign:
o Audience Choice Award: Women Empowerment, Lahiru Wanigasekara, Madhudshani Sandya, Medha Herath, Shilpa Sayura Foundation, Sri Lanka
Narrative:
o First Place: Dear Child, Ismael Mora, Daniel Cordero, Casa de la Juventud Mora, Costa Rica
o Second Place: Silicon, Andrew Elias, Edward Flores, Redwood City Peapod Academy, USA
o Audience Choice Award: Life=Smile, Sandro Bernuez, Mateo Pérez Dadone, Julia Kazepis, Magalí Aredes, IPEM 23 LES and Instituto Nuestra Seora de Lourdes, Argentina
Photo Essay:
o First Place: Bowing Down to the Earth, Agata Mroczek, Zespół Szkół im. Ziemi Lubelskiej, Poland
o Second Place: The Elementals, Alonso Magana, Hood River Valley High School, USA
o Audience Choice Award: 21st Century Girl, Poornima Meegammana, Mithun Kumarasinghe, Shilpa Sayura Foundation, Sri Lanka
Collaboration:
o First Place: Rhythm of A Refugee, Antonette Paveira, Kaeontae Benjamin, Liala Zaray, Anthony Baker, MACLA, USA
o Second Place: A Collaboration, Luz Campuzano, Connor Muschison, MACLA, USA
o Audience Choice Award: Wishes for Canada, Haya, Tony, Sophia, Jaime Munoz, Pamela Guzman, Simeon, Tyler, Silvia, Adassa Mijangos, Jacaranda Education, Mexico
Poetry:
o First Place: Beautiful Words, Sabrina Tibbertsma, Eva Miller, Tennyson High School, USA
o Second Place: Creativ., Eduardo Arias, Jeremy Mendoza, Casa de la Juventud Mora, Costa Rica
o Audience Choice Award: Beauty, Julia Lawrence, Torrance Memorial Healthcare Foundation, USA
UNICEF Challenge:
o First Place: YES Film Project, Poornima Meegammana, Mithun Kumarasinghe, Wjira Madusanka, Lahiru Wanigasekara, Aadeeptha Samarakoon, Romesh Dhananjaya, Kavinda Promod, Sandya Madushani, Prabhashana Meegammana, Tharika Hansani, Dasun Soyza, Aheshka Rupasinghe, Madhavi Wickramasinghe, Sithma Illunngasinghe, Sumedha Dharmasena, Shilpa Sayura Foundation, Sri Lanka
o Second Place: The Fotostory, Daniel Marks, Cassandra Fowler, Nkemdilim Chukwuma, Stephanie Vela, American University, USA
o Audience Choice Award: Healing Paintbrushes Project, Julia Lawrence, Torrance Memorial Healthcare Foundation, USA
About Adobe Youth Voices
Adobe Youth Voices (AYV) is the Adobe Foundation’s global initiative to ignite Creative Confidence in youth by empowering them to find their voice and make it heard. The youth involved in AYV spotlight the issues they care about by creating original media – a process that fosters their passion to make a difference while providing them with the creative skills essential to success in the world today. Through programs like AYV, and by increasing creativity in education, Adobe believes we will better equip young people to be the problem solvers, critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow. To learn more about AYV, its point of view on creativity in education and how you can be involved, please visit http://youthvoices.adobe.com/.
About the Adobe FoundationThe Adobe Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation created and funded by Adobe Systems Incorporated to leverage human, technological and financial resources to drive social change and community improvements.
