Canon and Kidzania Cairo join hands to empower Egyptian youth with immersive learning environment
“Canon Photography Studio is a big milestone in Canon’s strategy to instil valuable knowledge and empower young minds in a way that resonates with the dynamic and creative world of children,” said Amine Djouahra, B2C business unit director at Canon Central and North Africa.
Canon is committed to empowering local talent in Africa, he said, adding that this is the company’s first collaboration of its type in the region.
Djouahra explained how the collaboration with KidZania Cairo, which allows kids to roleplay various professions, will introduce children to the world of photography.
“By learning about lights, shapes, and photography in a fun environment, kids are able to play and learn simultaneously. It's an incredible opportunity for them to explore their interests and perhaps even discover a passion that could shape their future dreams and careers,” Djouahra stated.
Canon’s ambition is to enhance people's daily lives by leveraging emerging digital technologies, Djouahra stressed.
He also pointed out that there’s no better place for doing so than Egypt, “considering the country dynamic, the profile of the population, and also KidZania Cairo as a partner.”
Djouahra emphasized how the brand’s corporate philosophy of Kyosei, which means working and living together for the common good, contributes to the development of local communities.
He pointed to a few of the company’s programmes, in particular.
The Young People Programme has provided 6,750 young people aged 11-21 in over 34 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa the knowledge and skills to tackle sustainability issues using creativity and critical thinking.
In addition, the company’s Miraisha initiative bolsters the employability of young people by providing workshops to photographers, videographers, filmmakers, and print business owners. The programme has already trained 7,000 people, and aims to increase this number to 10,000 by 2025, Djouahra added.
He pointed out some participants are now employed at Canon while others have become internationally rewarded photographers or are running their own businesses.
Canon and Egypt
Djouahra stressed that Egypt holds an important position for Canon due to its unique geographical location linking Europe, Asia, and Africa, both in terms of population and its contribution to the continent's GDP.
“The media and content creation landscapes are vibrant in Egypt,” Djouahra highlighted.
Djouahra concluded by confirming that Canon is well positioned to leverage the opportunities that lie ahead in Egypt and Canon will reinforce its vision of becoming a preferred imaging brand with a steady supply chain, industry-leading support, and extensive product portfolio while empowering the next generation through initiatives like collaboration with KidZania Cairo.