Every year, UNICEF Germany awards pictures and reports by professional photojournalists who document the personality and living conditions of children with the international competition »UNICEF Photo of the Year«. The freshly chosen winning pictures of the 2021 competition will be presented from February 9th to March 20th, 2022 in the Willy-Brandt-Haus. They show the living conditions of children and young people who find themselves in a difficult situation: in war, in material or mental need or after natural disasters. But moments of happiness, joie de vivre and facets of different everyday worlds are also depicted.

In 2021, UNICEF Germany awarded the “UNICEF Photo of the Year” for the 22nd time. As in previous years, an independent jury decided on the award. She selected reports and documentaries that are characterized by their special aesthetic and journalistic quality as well as their care, empathy and respect for children. For the 2021 competition, 86 photographers from 26 nations nominated by international experts submitted around 1,300 pictures.

Mirja Linnekugel, Artistic Director of the Willy-Brandt-Haus Circle of Friends, explains: “We are delighted to be showing the ‘UNICEF Photo of the Year’ in the Willy-Brandt-Haus for the first time. The photographically excellent pictures show the viewers – sometimes frightening – children’s worlds from different countries, which would otherwise mostly remain hidden and are now finding their way into the public eye”.

The winning image captures a girl’s powerlessness and determination in the face of raging forces of nature: a devastating cyclone in the Bay of Bengal swept away her family’s tea counter. The haunting winning image by Indian photographer Supratim Bhattacharjee from the Indian Sundarbans shows children’s struggle to survive in the face of ongoing environmental degradation and climate change.

The reportage by Indian photographer Sourav Das about a teacher who turned an entire village into an open-air classroom during the Corona lockdown received second prize. Iraqi photographer Younes Mohammad was awarded third prize for his series on children of war-wounded fathers.

These and the photos from nine other reports can be seen in the exhibition. Georg Graf Waldersee, Chairman of the Board of UNICEF Germany says: “The pictures open our eyes to the situation of children in our world. They show the fates of children, honestly and sincerely, some relentlessly, some full of hope. They are a powerful appeal for empathy and compassion and remind us of our common purpose: to stand up for the well-being of children worldwide”.

(Editor’s note: translation into English by PiB, read the original German text here)

For further details please visit the websites of UNICEF Photo of the Year & Freundeskreis Willy-Brandt-Haus:
unicef.de/photo
fkwbh.de/ausstellung/unicef

Freundeskreis Willy-Brandt-Haus (FkWBH)

Freundeskreis Willy-Brandt-Haus was founded in 1996 as a non-profit association. Since the opening of Willy-Brandt-Haus, FkWBH has provided a varied free programme of events at the interface of culture and politics. In addition to the regular exhibitions, readings, discussions and film evenings are also offered to a wide audience.

Feb 9 — Mar 20, 2022

Freundeskreis Willy-Brandt-Haus e.V.

Stresemannstraße 28, 10963 Berlin
[District: Kreuzberg | Borough: Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg]

Opening hours: Tue – Sun 12 – 6 pm | Free time slot ticket required | Closing days 2022

Admission free