Inspiring Creativity: Canon Academy Juniors Partners with Karen Country Club to Nurture Young Photographers in Kenya
This partnership aims at Inspiring creativity and cultivating young photographers at Kenya's premier country club
Canon Central&North Africa (www.Canon-CNA.com) is thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership with Karen Country Club to bring the Canon Academy Juniors program to young members aged 8-16. This unique collaboration combines Karen Country Club's legacy of community engagement with Canon's dedication to nurturing the next generation of visual storytellers. Set to take place from 14th-17th April, this exclusive members-only program will provide young participants with immersive, hands-on photography training in a stunning outdoor environment.
Through Canon Academy Juniors, selected country clubs in Nairobi, including the iconic Karen Country Club, will host four days of interactive photography sessions led by Canon-certified trainers. Participants will engage in both theoretical and practical workshops covering essential photography skills such as composition, exposure settings, storytelling, and more. The program is designed to help children and teens not only discover a new hobby but also build a deep-rooted photography culture among young learners.
Established in 1937, Karen Country Club offers an ideal setting for this program. Known as one of Kenya's oldest and most prestigious family-oriented clubs, the club's 18-hole golf course was built on a former coffee estate developed by Danish author Karen Blixen, the inspiration for the classic film Out of Africa. Its serene landscape, enriched with indigenous trees, wetlands, and panoramic views of the Ngong Hills, provides a perfect canvas for budding photographers.
Canon's Commitment to Innovation and Creative Expression
'Canon Academy Juniors is more than a photography program; it's a space where young minds can explore their creativity, learn valuable skills, and develop a passion for visual storytelling,' said Rashad Ghani, B2C Business Unit Director, Canon Central&North Africa. 'We're proud to partner with Karen Country Club to bring this enriching experience to their community, nurturing Kenya's next generation of photographers in an environment as inspiring as their vision.'
Program Highlights and Structure
The program will run in two daily sessions over four days, offering age-appropriate courses for children aged 8-12 in the morning, followed by sessions for teens aged 13-16 in the afternoon. Each day covers core photography topics including:
Basics of photography and camera handling
Understanding and using different camera modes
Principles of composition and the exposure triangle
Storytelling through images
Specialized sessions such as Canon Creative Park, where participants can explore genre-based photography and creative camera modes
The program not only offers a hands-on learning experience but also fosters a vibrant photography culture among young people, encouraging them to capture the world around them with new perspective.
About Canon Academy Juniors
Canon Academy Juniors is an exclusive educational initiative designed for young members who are eager to explore visual imaging and printing. This program is dedicated to nurturing the creative skills of students aged 8-16 through engaging outdoor and hands-on training sessions led by expert trainers.
About Karen Country Club
Founded in 1937, Karen Country Club is one of the oldest golf clubs in Kenya. With a course built to United States Golf Association (USGA) standards and steeped in history, the club is a prestigious hub of community activity, offering family-oriented recreation in a setting rich with indigenous flora and fauna. Its grounds serve as an extraordinary venue for Canon Academy Juniors, enhancing the learning experience with breathtaking views of the Ngong Hills and abundant natural beauty.
This partnership underscores Canon's commitment to innovation and Karen Country Club's mission of enriching its members' lives through unique and valuable programs. Together, Canon and Karen Country Club are proud to offer young members the tools and inspiration they need to explore the art of photography.
Click here to learn more about Canon Academy Juniors: https://apo-opa.co/4h5Nslm
Click here to learn more about Canon Print Hub: https://apo-opa.co/3XuVwF9
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).
Media enquiries, please contact:
Canon Central and North Africa
Mai Youssef
e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com
APO Group - PR Agency
Rania ElRafie
e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com
About Canon Central and North Africa:
Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon's business within the Africa region - by strengthening Canon's in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon's commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.
Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa's rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.
Canon's corporate philosophy is Kyosei (https://apo-opa.co/3F4uA93) – 'living and working together for the common good'. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon's products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.
For more information: www.Canon-CNA.com
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When you meet the right person, I just feel like that is divine timing. I do believe that. I already know which lyric it is. The first lyric of the song is my favourite because I feel like it's so confident. It's so loud about saying like 'Oh, no, no, no, no, I'm definitely a gift that heaven sent to you'. The line is, 'You must be God's favourite 'cause I'm not anything to play with.' Like, hello? He gifted you, me? He gave you my love? That kind of set the tone for the rest of the song and how I was going to speak about it. Cosmo ME: From Butterflies to your old songs, it's a complete 360 in my opinion. What inspired this new change in your music? ABIR: Yeah, I mean that four-year break put me through the ringer. I was just very determined to find something that made me passionate again. And it's funny how they always say, like you just said, it's a 360. It really goes back to like how I started music and where I started. Before I had even met my manager or started recording in his studio or any of that, I was doing R&B. Before I even moved to New York, a lot of where I started was doing R&B showcases in the city and trying to just get my music out there. And then eventually I kind of found this niche vibe, which was what we call Pop Soul. At the time, that was like the first two songs I had released Girls and Playground. And then you go down this like creative path where you sign with a label and you want to do justice to yourself as an artist and you want to create things that genuinely feel like you. But you also want to make sure that you're being a good partner and that you're growing in all the right ways. So, eventually, from Pop Soul, it became Pop and then it became Arab Pop. And now I feel like it had to come home. So now I've kind of done everything that I can to fuse it into where I started and what I feel like comes naturally to me. Cosmo ME: I wanted to ask, all this talk about love, all this talk about romance, with Butterflies, and with Made 4 You, in a few simple words, what is love for you right now? ABIR: Love to me is a safe place. I feel that to really feel and be in love, you have to feel safe. And I think that, over everything else, like over the butterflies in your stomach feeling, over all that other stuff. If someone can make you feel safe to be who you are and to express yourself and communicate, and just really just be, I feel like that is love and it doesn't even have to be just relationships. It could be within friendships. It could be within than just like your family. If you have a safe place with someone, that's love. Cosmo ME: Okay. Considering your songs and your experiences, what are your green flags and red flags? ABIR: Hmm, I'll start with the red flags because they're easier. Like I said, I used to have a little bit of pride when it came to expressing my feelings and communicating. I'd be like, okay, let me just keep that to myself. I'd bring it down and hide it. That could be a red flag because I wouldn't always express what I was really feeling in the moment. Then there's the opposite side of that. Once I do express myself, you probably won't hear the end of it. If you cross me or make me feel some type of way, I will let you know. Most of the time, I offer grace when things happen. But there are moments, days even, where if you catch me at the wrong time, I don't think about the situation as a whole. I just focus on what I'm feeling. That's probably not the best. When I was younger, my most toxic trait was putting work above everything. I was extremely committed. Now, I think I have way more balance. This one's a bit intense… but I love to eat. Like, really love to eat. If I cook something, I'm going into the fridge later to eat the leftovers. Without a doubt. Leftovers are genuinely that good. Another red flag is that I really don't like texting. I need a call or FaceTime, and I know not everyone has time for that. Now for green flags. I think they kind of overlap. I express myself clearly now, so you'll always know what I'm feeling. That helps when things come up and you need to talk them through. I'm not avoidant. Another green flag is that I'm a great cook. I love cooking for the people I love. I'll make all the meals, but I'm also definitely eating the leftovers. I won't be sending you home with a plate. Just kidding. Another green flag is that I'll write songs about you. I'm family-oriented. I love my family and staying connected. And I take accountability. That's a big one. If you call me out, I will take accountability,
