Commonwealth Youth Photography Competition | Royal Commonwealth Society

The Commonwealth Youth Photography Competition 2026 Winners

Overall Winner
Sea Turtle Saviours

Elsa Stocking

Bio

Elsa is an early career environmental conversationalist, with experience working in forest restoration research in Thailand as well as marine conservation in the Maldives. Having graduated from the university of Manchester in Biology, Elsa developed a keen passion for community centred nature based interventions for tackling environmental issues. A passion for photography came out of working in the Maldives where she discovered the importance of shining a light onto the ground level of conservation that is rarely seen.

Artist Statement

This image depicts a young green sea turtle affectionately nick-named "Chippi" undergoing emergency medical care for injuries caused by marine pollution. Chippi was found entangled in a discarded cement bag near the island of Naifaru in the northern Maldives.

In this photograph, a veterinarian as well as marine biologists work together to stop bleeding caused by an infection that had developed in his mouth. Shown in the image is a small section of the cement bag coming out from his mouth after he had swallowed large pieces of the plastic. Chippi arrived at the Atoll Marine Centre after being rescued with the cement bag tightly wrapped around his neck and both front flippers. Thanks to the quick response of his rescuers and the quality of medical care he received, Chippi was eventually able to excrete the remaining plastic and make a recovery. He regained strength in all limbs and was successfully released back into the Indian Ocean.Many sea turtles are not so lucky.

Every year in the Maldives, many turtles are found entangled in discarded fishing gear known as "ghost nets." This season, all turtle rescue centres across the Maldives reached full capacity due to the number of turtles needing to be rescued. Many have injuries so severe that they can never be released back into the wild, and some injuries can prove fatal. The majority of turtles found entangled in the Maldives belong to endangered species, particularly olive ridley sea turtles, which often lose one or more limbs as a result of entanglement. Chippi was lucky to be one of the survivors, and his story is a reminder of the impact of marine debris and the difference that conservation action can make.

Category Winners

Grace Cakau

Hope and Resilience
Playing above the rising tide

Bio
I’m Grace Cakau, 25, from Fiji, and I work in communications supporting climate mobility work across the Pacific. I’ve always loved noticing the little things — the people, places and everyday moments that often have a story of their own.

Artist Statement
In Tuvalu, sandbags used for land reclamation help communities hold on to land threatened by rising sea level. The presence of a child on the reclaimed shoreline reflects the deeper purpose of this adaptation effort, the determination to preserve a homeland and identity for future generations.

Hope and Resilience
Checkmate on the Lagoon

Kashope Faje

Bio
Kashope Faje is a Nigerian photographer and visual artist whose work explores people, culture, and contemporary life through a distinctively cinematic style. His practice spans documentary, portraiture, and cultural and commercial photography, with a particular interest in finding extraordinary visual possibilities within everyday moments.Since developing his professional practice in 2019, Kashope has worked with leading brands including Pepsi, Colgate, and Guinness, alongside collaborations with Theirworld and UK Aid, while contributing to cultural and documentary projects such as THE HERDS and Fela: Afrobeat Rebellion. His photographs have appeared in Vogue, The Guardian, UCL, and CNN.

For Kashope, the work is guided by a daily pursuit of doing good rather than chasing future greatness. As Charles Spurgeon put it, “We will not pine to be great but we will be eager to be good” — a philosophy Kashope carries into both his personal life and his craft, choosing consistency and honest work over the pull of fame or acclaim.

Artist Statement
In the sprawling aquatic community of Makoko, Lagos—recognized as the world’s largest floating slum—the water dictates the rhythm of life, but it does not define the limits of a child's potential. This image captures Benjamin, a young champion from the 'Chess in Slums' initiative, returning home by canoe not just with a trophy, but with a profound sense of dignity and pride.

For generations, the narrative of Makoko has been defined by survival, with communities built on wooden stilts over dark waters, often overlooked and underestimated. The introduction of chess, however, has triggered a powerful wave of change. The game has taught children like Benjamin that critical thinking, patience, and strategy are tools they already possess to navigate life's complexities and outmanoeuvre their circumstances. Dressed in a formal suit that contrasts sharply with the rugged wooden boats and the rustic backdrop of his neighbourhood, Benjamin stands as a beacon of excellence. The trophy he clutches tightly is more than metal; it is physical proof that talent is universal, even if opportunity is not.

As his canoe cuts through the water, his bright smile reflects a deep resilience that refuses to sink. This photograph stands as a testament to hope, proving that intellect and nobility can flourish anywhere, turning a boy from a floating slum into a king of his own destiny.

Innovative Solutions
Roots of Hope

Augusto Nhampossa

Bio

I am an explorer of biodiversity conservation, passionate about discovering the connections between people, nature, and the ecosystems around us. I am driven by curiosity, environmental education, community engagement, and innovation, and I am committed to contributing to a more sustainable future where people and nature can thrive together.

Artist Statement

In Mozambique, climate change is not a distant threat, it is a daily reality. Rising seas, stronger storms, and eroding coastlines are reshaping lives and landscapes. On Inhaca Island, mangroves stand as fragile guardians, holding back the ocean while sustaining communities with food, culture, and protection.

This photograph captures a simple act of monitoring, yet it represents something greater: the search for innovative solutions in a country that suffers deeply from climate emergencies. Each measurement is a gesture of care, a way of turning science into hope. It shows that resilience is not abstract, it is lived by people who refuse to give up on their land and ocean.

Roots of Hope is a reminder that survival depends on action. For Mozambique, protecting mangroves is protecting life itself. Even in the face of immense challenges, these roots carry the promise of a future where hope grows stronger than the tide.