PONTREMOLI, Italy – September 09, 2026 -- vivo and the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme concluded the 2026 Capture the Future: Global Youth Storytelling Initiative with a five-day Co-Creation Camp in the Appennino Tosco Emiliano Biosphere Reserve, running August 31 to September 5 and gathering 15 young creators from around the world.
Global open call drew 745 submissions from 98 countries
Launched by vivo and UNESCO MAB in March 2026, the initiative invited young people to document the relationship between people and nature within UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. The call generated 745 submissions from participants in 98 countries, with stories linked to more than 120 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves across the World Network.
Campus workshops reached over 600 students across three continents
In April, capacity-building workshops on visual storytelling extended the initiative's reach to students from Penang Hill in Malaysia and the University of Alexandria in Egypt, before a closing session at the University of Milan. Combined, these sessions engaged more than 600 students ahead of the Co-Creation Camp.
Fifteen selected creators produced original photo essays and short films using vivo smartphones
The selected students, young photographers and visual storytellers used vivo smartphones to create original photo essays and short films during the camp. A multidisciplinary mentor team guided the work, including vivo imaging expert Keshav Chugh, UNESCO MAB communication specialist Manoel Giffoni, ZEISS Ambassador Solli Kanani and film director Marko Roth.
"What touched me most was their curiosity, openness, and strong connection to their own places and communities," said Solli Kanani, a Co-Creation Camp mentor. "Many of their stories are deeply personal, while also connected to bigger questions about nature, culture, and the future."
Camp closed with public exhibition and screening on September 5
Participants presented their finished works to local audiences at a closing exhibition and screening event. Selected stories from the camp will be distributed through vivo and UNESCO MAB's global platforms, and a documentary is being produced to capture the creators' journey and experiences.