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Sibomana Gilbert is a 28-year-old Rwandan. He started out as a short story writer before joining the Africa Digital Media Academy where he studied filmmaking for 3 years. Gilbert owns a small filmmaking company called Coin Motion Pictures and he is currently working on a project as a Photo Journalist to collect stories, photos, and short videos of youth who live with disabilities. The project facilitates their access to technical and business skills through TVET across Africa in countries such as Rwanda, Kenya, and Ethiopia. In Rwanda, the project was implemented through a local non-profit organization called The Umbrella of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities in fighting against HIV /AIDS and for health promotion (UPHLS).

This winning photo is of one of the youths that Gilbert is documenting for his project. He decided to submit this photo of Gloriose Mukanyandwi because she was spontaneously smiling, instead of her usual serious face of concentration while working.

Gilbert notes that TVET has played an important role in his life. After his training, he was able to get a job and improve his standard of living. He also realizes that TVET is very important for the youth, especially those living with disabilities who have been left behind. Most of them are poor and do not have access to formal education. Since TVET Schools provide hands-on skills, it is very useful for these young people. It enables them to acquire skills and finally find jobs or create their own jobs to support themselves and contribute to the community. In general, TVET gives them access to the labour market.

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Amitava Chandra studied Mathematics and is currently working in the Revenue Department of the Ministry of Finance in India. Amateur photography plays a major role in his life. Amitava tries to find the layers of humanity in and around society while he enjoys a break from regular daily life. Such searching often leads to interaction with people who are in need as well as people who care for those in need.

In this vocational hub, he saw this jubilant and confident smile from one of the trainees whose body language showed she had finally accomplished what she set out to do. The role model in the photo shows how vocational skills can serve as a confidence-building measure in one’s life, especially for youths, whereby involving his/her creativity can yield the intended achievement and lead to a successful life.

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Linh Pham is a 35-year-old Freelance Journalist from Vietnam. He lives in the coastal city of Danang with his family. He has been working as a Freelance Journalist for 10 years, with a variety of activities such as reporting news, writing articles, photography, media, PR, and organizing events.

In his desire to serve the community and contribute something positive, he seeks out social projects in the areas of culture, education, health, and environment to collaborate as a Photographer and Media Supporter. He prefers to collaborate on projects that are meaningful and beneficial to the community.

Linh Pham was motivated to take this picture due to Lieu’s focus on her job. Even though she had many challenges to overcome, the image is motivating because she is passionate about what she is doing. Linh noted that he has benefitted from TVET courses in the past and that vocational skills are very important for young people.