Young photographers, artists and writers are encouraged to submit pictures showcasing the importance of diplomacy and highlighted how people-to-people interaction can achieve peace.

The competition is being run by Young Artists and Authors Showcase (YAAS) which encourage youth from around the globe to express the mission of Sister Cities International through original artwork, literature, film, and photography.

Councillor Clare Head, Richmond Council’s twinning champion said: “Forming connections with like-minded people from around the world is what twinning is all about.

“This is a great chance for our young people to show what the concept of twinning means to them.

“Photographers are encouraged to draw inspiration from their experiences with sister cities, travel, exchange, international friendships, and the many ways that people cultivate relationships across cultures.

Sister Cities’ mission is to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation — one individual and one community at a time – this should be reflected in submissions.

In order to be eligible to enter, students must be between 13 and 18 years of age (for art and literature entries) or 13 and 22 years of age (photography and film entries).

They must also be affiliated with a paying member of Sister Cities International or an international community with a dues-paying sister city.

Cllr Head added: “If this sounds like something you’d be interested in I encourage you to submit an entry!”

Entry is free, except for the film submission which has a $25 USD fee, and submissions close on Tuesday February 20 2018.

All entries will be published on Sister Cities International’s Tumblr page.

Winners and finalists will be displayed at the 2018 Annual Conference in Aurora, Colorado and go on a tour to select cities across the U.S.

For more information, and to download detailed guidelines and entry forms, please visit www.sistercities.org/YAAS