The countdown is on for entries to the Mind Your Melon Youth Photography competition.
The competition, which closes on New Year’s Eve, encourages young people from across the county to capture photos of their favourite place or landscape in Donegal and submit them on the Mind your Melon website.
Photos that are shortlisted as finalists will be in with a chance to win some great prizes and will feature in a Mind your Melon Photo Exhibition that will be displayed at locations across Donegal in 2023.
Mind your Melon is a mental health and wellbeing festival for young people in Donegal running from 10th October (World Mental Health Day) – 16th December. The Youth Photo Competition is part of a wider programme of events, activities and online content that aims to promote positive mental health and wellbeing and signposting of services. The festival has been created by local mental health charity Connect Mental Health in partnership with Jigsaw Donegal, Foróige and Donegal Local Development Clg.
Speaking at the launch of the photo competition Connect Mental Health Chairperson, Ciaran McLoone said, ‘Taking a moment to focus on what is going on in nature around us can have a very positive impact on your well-being. The aim of the photo competition is to promote getting out in nature and to encourage young people to appreciate the environment around them. The competition will also get young people familiar with the Mind your Melon website that features inspiring talks and tips promoting positive mental health and signposts the services and supports available to them.’
The competition is free to enter, open to secondary school students across the county and is open for entries between 22 November 2022 to 31st December 2022.
Entrants can submit up to a maximum of three photos and all entries must be submitted via the online entry form on the Mind your Melon website, which can be accessed at www.mindyourmelon.ie/photocompetition
Shortlisted finalists will feature in a Mind your Melon Photo Exhibition that will be displayed at locations across the county in 2023. Each finalist will also receive a framed print of their photo. Competition winners will be announced in January.
