The General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs has announced the launch of the seventh edition of the “Endowment and Image” competition, placing sustainability and collective responsibility at the centre of this year’s visual storytelling initiative.
Launched under the umbrella of the Endowment Fund for Scientific and Cultural Development, the competition was announced yesterday during a press conference under the theme *Sustainability and Collective Action.
The directorate said the initiative uses photography as a creative and universal language to promote the humanitarian and developmental values of endowments and to encourage photographers to capture their impact in ways that speak to a wide audience.
Since its creation in 2018, the competition has developed steadily in both scope and participation.
What began as a local cultural initiative expanded from its third edition to include local and international branches, opening the door to wider participation and attracting hundreds of photographers from different parts of the world.
Over its previous editions, the contest has explored themes such as the Holy Qur’an, mosques, healthcare, volunteer work, nature and the environment, and Hadith.
These themes have helped present endowments not only as charitable institutions, but also as contributors to education, health, social solidarity, environmental awareness, and cultural identity.
The fifth edition drew 604 photographers from 49 countries, while the sixth edition, which focused on science and its institutions, attracted 655 photographers from 21 countries.
Thirty winners were selected across the local and international branches, with total prizes reaching QR203,000.
For the seventh edition, “Sustainability” will guide the international branch, while the local branch will focus on both “Sustainability” and “Teamwork”.
The theme highlights the connection between endowments, sustainable giving, resource conservation, and shared responsibility toward society and the environment.
It also underlines teamwork as a practical value that strengthens community service and supports lasting impact for future generations.
The directorate invited photographers and creators in Qatar and abroad to submit works that translate these values into compelling visual stories and help spread the culture of endowments more widely.