essay writing competition kenya

Participate in the 2024 International Essay Contest for Young People!

The Goi Peace Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT), is pleased to announce the commencement of the 2024 International Essay Contest for Young People. This prestigious competition invites Kenyan youth to share their narratives on the theme "My Experience of Overcoming Conflict."

The contest aims to foster a global culture of peace and sustainable development by encouraging young minds to reflect on their personal encounters with conflict and how they have navigated through adversity. Through this platform, participants have the opportunity to inspire and be inspired, showcasing resilience and innovative perspectives that contribute to positive change.

To participate, interested individuals are encouraged to visit https://www.goipeace.or.jp/en/ for detailed guidelines and submission requirements. The deadline for submissions is 11:59 pm (EAT), Saturday, 15th June, 2024.

This is an exceptional chance for Kenyan youth to voice their stories and insights on overcoming conflict, contributing to a world where peace and understanding prevail. Don’t miss this opportunity to make your mark on the global stage and inspire others with your experiences.

For more information and to submit your entry, visit https://www.goipeace.or.jp/en/     https://www.goipeace.or.jp. Let your story be heard and celebrated as we work together towards a brighter, more harmonious future.

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Essay Writing

Earn cash and kind prizes and awards with your writing skills. List of Essay Competitions for Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, and other African countries

SADC Secondary School Essay Competition 2025 For Students (USD$ 3,250 Prize)

Spread the loveApplications are now open for the SADC initiative, which promotes innovation for economic growth and stability, as highlighted at the 44th Ordinary SADC Summit in Harare, Zimbabwe. Apply Below:  When is the Application Deadline: The application deadline for the SADC Secondary School Essay Competition 2025 For Students is 31st May 2025. Tell Me … Read more

New Media Writing Prize (NMWP) 2025 (£2,000 Prize)

Spread the loveThe NMWP invites writers to explore the cutting-edge of new-media storytelling. Apply below: When is the Application Deadline: The application deadline for the New Media Writing Prize (NMWP) 2025 is 1 February 2025. Tell Me About The New Media Writing Prize (NMWP) 2024: The NMWP, now in its 14th year, celebrates and promotes … Read more

Walter Scott Prize For Historical Fiction 2024 For Writers Globally

Spread the loveApplications are open for the Walter Scott Prize For Historical Fiction 2024 For Young Writers globally, Apply Below:  When is the Application Deadline: The application deadline for the Walter Scott Prize For Historical Fiction 2024 For Writers is January 31, 2025. Tell Me About The Walter Scott Prize For Historical Fiction: The Young … Read more

Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) World Maritime Day Essay Competition 2024 for Nigerian Students 

Spread the loveApplications are open for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) World Maritime Day Essay Competition 2024 for Nigerian Students. Apply Below: When is the Application Deadline: The application deadline for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) World Maritime Day Essay Competition 2024 for Nigerian Students is September 13, 2024.  … Read more

BATNF Farmers for the Future Grant 2024 For NYSC Members (NGN 10 million Grant)

Spread the loveNYSC Members interested in agriculture should take advantage of the BATNF Farmers for the Future Grant 2024 as they stand a chance to win part of the NGN 10 million Grant. Apply Below:  When is the Application Deadline: The application deadline for the BATNF Farmers for the Future Grant 2024 For NYSC Members … Read more

Commonwealth Short Story Prize Writing Contest 2025 (£5,000 Prize)

Spread the loveApplications are open for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize Writing Contest 2025 for the opportunity to win £5,000 Prize. Apply Below:  When is the Application Deadline: The application deadline for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize Writing Contest 2025 is 1 November 2024. Tell Me About The Commonwealth Short Story Prize Writing Contest 2025: … Read more

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UNESCO Youth Essay Contest 2023

• Deadline January 20, 2023
• Region kenya

• Partially Funded
• Nairobi, Kenya

UNESCO calls for essays engaging with young researchers to enable intercultural dialogue.

UNESCO remains committed to meaningful youth engagement, with youth embraced by the Organization as both beneficiaries and key partners in co-shaping and co-delivery its mandate to build peace in the minds of women and men. This call for Essays reaffirms the importance of youth voices and agency, and reiterates the value UNESCO attaches to Youth-led knowledge production, their innovative ideas and thoughts to advance mutual understanding and peacebuilding.

Through this intellectual challenge, you are invited to: • Read UNESCO Global Report on We Need to Talk: Measuring lntercultural Dialogue for Peace and Inclusion; • Demonstrate understanding through use in your Essay of any one or more of the nine (09) structural and principle domains of the Framework mentioned in section 2 above; • Using the Framework, present concrete examples from your context of how absence of dialogue, exclusion, discrimination, marginalization and others factors impede better understanding and sustainable peace at community, national or regional levels; • Formulate clear recommendations that looks into structures, values, behaviours, and processes needed for dialogues to work as an instrument for enhancing social inclusivity and building/sustaining peace in East Africa. You may want to focus on and address any one or more of issues such as: Misunderstandings based on racial, ethnic, cultural or religious/belief differences, etc.; intolerance, marginalization or discriminations due to disability, sexual orientation, belonging to a minority group, hate speech, etc. inequalities and divisions rooted in political, economic, or social disparities, etc.

Recognizing the potential for lntercultural Dialogue and the need for better data in this area to effectively tackle pressing global issues, UNESCO has developed the UNESCO Framework for Enabling lntercultural Dialogue in partnership with the Institute for Economics and Peace. Including data from over 160 countries1 the Framework serves as a guide on how best to improve the structures1 values and processes that enable lntercultural Dialogue.

• The best three (03) essays: A round trip from home country to participate in the UNESCO Regional Launch event in Nairobi, Kenya, including accommodation; a UNESCO Certificate; opportunity to make a presentation of the essay during a dedicated session of the Launch event; publication of the Essay on the UNESCO Website; Hard copy of UNESCO publications “We Need to Talk: Measuring lntercultural Dialogue for Peace and Inclusion” (2022).
• From the 4th to 20th best Essays: A UNESCO Certificate of participation; Opportunity to participate online and contribute to the event; publication of the Essay on the UNESCO Website.

Eligibilities

• Eligibility: Be a young researchers or young experts aged between 18 – 35, and a national from any of the 13 Member States covered by the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa (Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda).

• Language: The essay can be submitted in English or French

•Novelty/Innovation: Essays must be original, innovative and unpublished. Already published works as well as plagiarized entries will be disqualified. If you use quotations, please include the reference at the bottom of the essay (references are not included in the word count).

• Style and Format: The essay may be in academic, literary, dissertation style, and must be typed and contain a title. It should be submitted in PDF or MS Word. Font: Arial; Font Size: 12; Line and Paragraph spacing: 1.5, Word Count: 1500 – 2500 words maximum

• Copyrights: Participants are invited to transfer copyright of the contested essays to the organizer (UNESCO), through signing of an Authorization Form that MUST be submitted alongside the Essay. This will allow relevant use as well as publication of selected pieces.

Application Process

• All applications must be sent to [email protected] and [email protected] and c.c. to hc.ngandeu-ngatta.unesco.org, with the Subject: UNESCO Essay Contest-We Need to Talk, and should be submitted by 20 January 2023 20:59 p.m.
• Authors must also fill, sign, and return an Authorization Form, alongside their submission.

Application Deadline: January 20, 2023

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The 21st International Committee of the Red Cross Essay Competition for East African Universities

• The Republic of South Sudan

The confluence of climate change, environmental degradation, and armed conflict presents unique challenges to vulnerable populations, such as refugees and internally displaced persons, who are already confronted with precarious living conditions and limited access to resources and services. Armed conflict exacerbates the negative impact of climate change and environmental degradation on fragile ecosystems, heightening the vulnerability of affected populations and adversely impacting humanitarian assistance.

Critically analyse and discuss the challenges posed by the convergence of climate change, environmental degradation, and armed conflict, as well as the international humanitarian law rules, policies, and practical measures that could address these challenges.

INSTRUCTIONS

• The competition is open to all undergraduate students from East African universities.
• Essays must be typed, properly referenced, structured, and a bibliography provided.
• Essays must not exceed 4000 words (including the footnotes but excluding the bibliography).
• Any essay found to have been plagiarized will be disqualified from the competition.
• The essay and a copy of the student's identification card must be received at the ICRC Regional Delegation in Nairobi by 30 June 2023 by email ( [email protected] ).
• Late entries will not be accepted.
• The winner of the competition will receive a cash prize. There will also be awards for the first and second runners-up well as for the best essay from each participating country not represented in the top 3 winners.

ASSESSMENT GUIDE

Participants will be assessed on their logical arguments, the depth to which they develop their answers, structure, and, demonstrated knowledge of the subject matter. Each of the criteria will be awarded points as below:

CASH PRIZES

For further information please contact: International Committee of the Red Cross Communication Department, Nairobi Regional Delegation Denis Pritt Road, P.O Box 73226 - 00200 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 20 2723963 Email: [email protected] www.icrc.org

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Essay Writing Competition

Posted in Education, Science & Technology

Since its inception following the directive of the 9 th Meeting of the Council of Ministers in 2004, the EAC Essay Writing Competition has been a cornerstone activity fostering intellectual engagement among secondary school students across the East African Community. Directed by the Education, Culture, and Sports Committee, and supported by the EAC Secretariat and Partner States’ Ministries of Education, this competition has emerged as a platform for nurturing young minds and promoting regional integration.

The inaugural winners of the EAC Essay Writing Competition were honored during the 6 th Summit of the EAC Heads of State in November 2004, marking the beginning of a tradition where outstanding student voices are recognized at the highest level of EAC leadership. Since then, this prestigious award has become a regular agenda item at Ordinary Summits, underscoring its significance in the EAC's educational and integration endeavors.

At the heart of the EAC Essay Writing Competition lies the opportunity for secondary school students to delve into contemporary regional developments and articulate their perspectives on how these developments impact EAC regional integration. Through essays ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 words, students express their insights in English, French, or Kiswahili, showcasing linguistic diversity and cultural richness within the EAC.

2023 Essay Writing Competition

Theme: " Promoting Development and Integration through Sports and Games "

The 2023 theme invites participants to explore the role of sports and games in advancing both development and integration within the East African Community. This timely topic encourages students to reflect on the potential of sports as a catalyst for social cohesion, economic empowerment, and cross-border collaboration, thus contributing to the overarching goals of the EAC.

As the EAC continues to foster dialogue and critical thinking among the youth in the region, secondary school students from across the EAC are invited to participate in the 2023 Essay Writing Competition. An opportunity for the voices of the youth to be heard as we collectively envision a more integrated and prosperous East Africa.

East African Community EAC Close Afrika Mashariki Road P.O. Box 1096 Arusha United Republic of Tanzania Tel: +255 (0)27 216 2100 Fax: +255 (0)27 216 2190 Email: [email protected]

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SADC Secondary School Essay Competition 2025 for students from SADC Member States (USD$ 3,250 Prize)

Application Deadline: 31st May 2025.

Applications are now open for the 2025 SADC Secondary School Essay Competition. In 1996 the Council of Ministers approved the established of the annual SADC Secondary School Essay Competition to support the process of regional co-operation and integration in the Region. The SADC Secretariat is pleased to announce the launch of the 2025 SADC Secondary School Essay Competition.

ELIGIBILITY

• All secondary school going students from all 16 Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States are welcome to participate in the Competition.

In 1980 the SADC Founders o cially formed the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC), in Lusaka, Zambia which was later transformed into SADC on 17th August 1992 in Windhoek, Namibia. Since its inception SADC has demonstrated unwavering commitment to peace, stability, and security in the region through adoption of several instruments aimed at ensuring peace and stability, as preconditions for socio-economic development.

The topic for the 2025 SADC Secondary School Essay competition is;

“How can innovation enhance SADC industrialisation and sustainable economic growth and development?”

The topic is derived from the theme of the 44th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held in the Republic of Zimbabwe, Harare on 17th August 2024, which is;“ Promoting Innovation to unlock opportunities for sustained economic growth and development towards an Industrialised SADC”. The theme seeks to recognise that innovation is a fundamental instrument with signi cant potential to drive priority sectors of manufacturing, mineral bene ciation and agro-processing to enhance industrialisation and economic growth of the SADC region.

Submission Instructions

• The essay must contain a maximum of 1000 words and a minimum of 900 words in English, and a maximum of 1200 words and a minimum of 1100 words in French and Portuguese.
• Essays that do not comply with the permissible number of words will not be considered.
• A complete word count must be provided at the end of the essay. Learners must provide references for their work where necessary; however, references do not contribute towards the word count of the entry.
• The preferred format of citation is APA.
• To facilitate simple sequencing, each answer must be accompanied by the question at the top.
• Learners are cautioned against using the bullet point format for their work.
• ALL entries must be typed and submit in electronic version in Microsoft Word and and in hard copies.
• Entrants should sign and initial each page of the hard copy document to make sure that they have not been altered.
• All essays entering the competition should be in one of the SADC working languages, i.e. English, Portuguese and French.

Winner and Prize

The winning entry will receive a once o prize money which will cover the outright payment of the Intellectual Property Rights of the essay. The monetary prize will be accompanied by a certi cate signed by the SADC Chairperson.

The prizes at regional level are as follows;

• 1st prize = USD1500
• 2rd Prize = USD1000
• 3rd Prize = USD750
• the top 10 winners will all receive certi cates signed by the SADC Executive Secretary. The top three (3) winners travel to the Member States hosting the SADC Summit to receive their prizes during the o cial opening ceremony. The prizes at national level are as follows;
• 1st prize = USD500
• 2rd Prize = USD300
• 3rd Prize = USD200
• the top 3 winners will all receive certi cates signed by the Minister of Education and the SADC Executive Secretary.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the SADC Secondary School Essay Competition

CHARM 2024 Africa Engage Africa Wide Virtual Hackathon

Application Deadline: October 11, 2024

Join Africa Engage 2024 in creating a ground breaking digital solution that empowers Africans to access, engage and utilize the huma rights tools! The application is open to African developers, activists, and the public. The exciting 2-day virtual hackathon seeks to create a game-changing solution that increases accessibility to African human rights tools and mechanisms. Together with Magamba Networks, Women Leaders Network for Development (RFLD), CIVICUS Alliance, CHARM Africa is hosting a 2-day virtual hackathon.

Key Areas of Focus

African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights

Maputo Protocol African Youth Charter Kampala Convention African Union Institutions Local Context

Hackathon Goals:

Design a solution: Develop a digital solution that allows users to access and interact with key African human rights instruments, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Kampala Convention, and AU Institutions.

The Challenge:

Develop a solution that makes African human rights charters and protocols more accessible to everyone. Your solution must consider:

• Accessibility: Solution must work both online and offline.
• Connectivity: Links Africans to regional organs, including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Civil Society organisations, and human rights defenders.
• User Interface: Provides a user-friendly interface to access key human rights instruments.
• Reporting: Enables users to report human rights violations and track progress.
• Creative/innovative : The solution encourages engagement and learning in a creative and innovative way.

Key Solution Requirements:

Online and Offline Use: Ensure functionality with or without internet access

User-Friendly: Make it accessible to a wide range of users, gadgets and platforms as well as appealing to different age groups.

Seamless Experience: Facilitate easy access and interaction with human rights instrument, multi-lingual support.

Prizes and Benefits  

Grand Prize: A significant cash prize awarded to the winning team.

Mentorship: Membership and support for the winning team.

Who Should Apply:

Applications are welcome from individuals and teams with diverse backgrounds and skill sets, including but not limited to:

• Developers and Engineers
• Designers and Creatives
• Activists and Advocates
• Researchers and Academics
• Storytellers and Communicators

Visit the Official Webpage of the CHARM Africa Engage Africa Wide Hackathon

 The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) Solutions Challenge 2024 ($20,000 grant)

Application Deadline:  October 16, 2024 (11:59 pm ET)

Applications are now open for the 2024 International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) Solutions Challenge. ICFJ is seeking experienced professionals to submit ideas, concepts or vision statements that answer this question:  How can news publishers leverage new technologies and novel approaches to more effectively reach target audiences, particularly those most vulnerable to disinformation, with quality news and information?

The Solution Challenge is an initiative of the Disarming Disinformation program, a three-year global project run by ICFJ with lead funding by the Scripps Howard Fund. Between 2022 and 2025, the program will have invested $3.8 million on solutions that effectively push back against disinformation. The Solutions Challenge 2024 has additional funding from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

Eligibility

• Media professionals
• Technologists
• Software developers
• SEO experts
• Anthropologists
• Citizenship/Residency : Applicants can be a citizen and resident of any country in the world, but must have a valid passport (with at least six months validity) to participate in the in-person sprint from Dec. 9-12, 2024.
• Availability : Participation in seven online workshop sessions between Nov 7 and Dec 3, full participation in the three-day sprint from Dec 9 to Dec 12, 2024, and any virtual engagements or preparations leading up to the event.
• Language Proficiency : Proficient in English, as this will be the primary language used during the Solutions Challenge.
• Team : You can apply as an individual or a team. If applying as a team, only one member needs to fill the application. You can have up to 5 primary team members.

The Journey

• Online Application : Submit your visionary idea.
• Virtual Workshops : Refine your concept with expert guidance.
• Solutions Sprint : Join us in Istanbul for an intensive, four-day sprint. During the sprint, participants will work with expert mentors to develop their idea through ideation, design, prototyping and testing into a viable product/service for news publishers.
• Product Development : Selected ideas will receive grant funding of  up to $20,000  and expert mentorship to transform their prototype into reality. 
• Turn your innovative idea into a working prototype.
• Win grant funding to develop your solution.
• Collaborate with global experts and like-minded innovators.
• Make a real impact in the fight against disinformation.

Please note: We are NOT looking for fact-checking initiatives or training programs that help people identify disinformation; tutorials of AI tools such as ChatGPT, Pinpoint etc.; nor investigative story ideas.

Application TImeline:

• Application Deadline:  October 16, 2024 (11:59pm ET)
• Virtual Workshops:  Nov 7 – Dec 3 (on Tuesdays and Thursdays)
• Istanbul Solutions Sprint:  Dec. 9-12, 2024

Visit the Official Webpage of the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) Solutions Challenge

Next Einstein Forum (NEF) Africa SDGs Week Innovation Competition 2024

Application Deadline: September 27, 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024 Next Einstein Forum (NEF) Africa SDGs Week Innovation Competition. This innovation competition seeks brilliant minds based in Rwanda to develop creative solutions that address one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By combining participants’ skills in Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence, they can contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future for Africa.

• Overall Best SDG Innovation Award
• Outstanding Social Inclusion Innovation Award

Each winner will receive a package of benefits, including the opportunity to join the AIMS Rwanda Incubator and receive financial, training, and mentorship support to further develop their solution.

Visit the Official Webpage of the Next Einstein Forum (NEF) Africa SDGs Week Innovation Competition

AUDA-NEPAD Africa Skills Revolution Competition 2024 for young Africans (USD 1,500 Prize)

Application Deadline: September 26th, 23:59 (GMT+3).

Applications are now open for the 2024 AUDA-NEPAD Africa Skills Revolution Competition. This initiative seeks to spotlight the achievements and success stories of young Africans who have leveraged their Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to build impactful careers and contribute to socio-economic development across the African continent.

Are you a young African with an inspiring career journey or story to share? We’re calling on all talented and skilled African youth to showcase their achievements and skills in TVET.

By sharing your journey and achievements, you can inspire other young Africans to explore the vast opportunities within TVET and contribute to the continent’s economic growth and development. Join us in this exciting venture to showcase the impact of TVET and highlight the potential of Africa’s youth as the driving force behind a prosperous and vibrant future.

Requirements

• The Competition is aimed atTVET graduates aged 16 to 35 who have an inspiring career journey to share.. The Africa Skills Revolution Competition offers an opportunity to celebrate the positive impact that TVET has had on the lives of African youth and to inspire others to pursue similar paths.
• Whether theyare in construction, healthcare, engineering, or another field, this is their chance to shine.
• By sharing their stories, they will help shift perceptions about TVET and demonstrate the vast potential of Africa’s youth.
• Winners will receive USD 1,500, which can be used to enhance your skills, advance your career, or support your entrepreneurial ventures.  In your submission, tell us how you plan to use the prize money and how it will help you achieve your ambitions, business goals, or career milestones.
• Additionally, some of the winners may earn the opportunity to attend WorldSkills Africa 2025, where they can showcase their career progress and demonstrate how this prize has boosted their professional growth.
• But that’s not all! Inspiring stories from participants—whether they are final winners or not—may be featured on the ASPYEE platforms, AUDA-NEPAD’s and Humana People to People’s social media channels as well as on the Africa Skills Revolution final report. Share your journey and inspire peers, parents, policymakers, and the broader society. Together, we can change perceptions about TVET and spark a movement.

Judging Criteria

• Passion & Inspiration: Demonstrated enthusiasm for their projects and skills, ability to inspire others, and how TVET has empowered them.
• Aspirations and Ambitions: Clear articulation of future vocational goals and ambitions, and identification of necessary support to achieve them.
• Potential for Impact: Demonstrated impact on local, national, or continental economic growth, improving community living conditions, promoting social inclusion, and enhancing livelihoods.
• Innovation: Innovative application of vocational skills to address challenges or introduce new solutions.

Application Timeline:

• Online Application Submission: All applications must be submitted in English, Portuguese, or French through the online form provided. The deadline for submission is  September 26th, 23:59 (GMT+3).
• Shortlist Announcement: Shortlisted candidates will be announced via email on October 4th. These candidates must submit a 2-minute video showcasing their skills and success stories before October 10th, 23:59 (GMT+3).
• Final Winners Announcement: Final winners will be announced during the Awards Ceremony that will take place at Africa Skills Week in Accra, Ghana, on October 14th.

Email: [email protected]

Visit the Official Webpage of the AUDA-NEPAD Africa Skills Revolution Competition

MTN-WWF Africa PachiPanda Challenge 2024 for youth-led SMEs.

Application Deadline: September 30, 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024 MTN Africa PachiPanda Challenge. The Africa PachiPanda Challenge, a joint effort by MTN and WWF to inspire and support innovative solutions addressing pressing environmental challenges across the continent.



This program aligns with WWF’s global goals, its Africa Strategy, and its established practices. It also adds significant value to the Mobilising More for Climate (MM4C) Programme. Specifically, the challenge contributes to achieving WWF’s core objectives of zero habitat loss, preventing species extinction, and promoting healthy populations. Furthermore, WWF’s Africa Strategy, titled “Making Nature Count,” aims to ensure that the value of Africa’s natural capital is fully integrated into decision-making by governments, corporations, financial institutions, and society.

The Africa PachiPanda Challenge builds on the success of the PachiPanda Innovation Challenge hosted by MTN Zambia which was delivered through a partnership between MTN Zambia and the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) in 2022 and 2023. This challenge expands and amplifies the competition through a partnership between MTN and the World Wildlife Fund.

Eligibility Requirements

• The MTN Africa PachiPanda Challenge is looking for young people (16 – 35 years), youth led SME’s, entrepreneurs, individuals, and organizations that work towards sustainable development in participating countries and employees in these sectors and are looking for ways to make their business sustainable.

Eligibility:

• The Challenge is open to individuals or teams residing in the participating country. • Participants may be of any age provided they have reached the legal age of majority in their jurisdiction or have obtained parental or guardian consent.
• Employees of the organizing committee, judges, sponsors, and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.
• The project must be carried out in the participating country and it needs to be in line with the mission and goals of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Country Office and respective MTN OPCO and/or Foundation.
• The application must concern an innovative project that boosts nature conservation in a contemporary way.
• The application ought to have concrete and measurable results, SMART goals and high communicative value to increase the chances of approval.

Participating countries for 2024: Zambia, South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon and Uganda.

Challenge Details

• The challenge will take place in two phases. During phase one, applications in each country will be shortlisted. Following this, selected participants will form teams of up to three members and undergo a human-centred design process during a 5-day sprint week. This process will involve business modelling, customer identification, and developing unique value propositions.
• The teams will then have the opportunity to pitch their solutions to a selected panel of industry experts, with the winning teams walking away with prizes valued at 5000 USD and advancing to stage 2 – the Pan-African contest, where they compete in the final.
• The winning solutions from the challenge will be implemented to address the pressing environmental challenges in the respective countries. This will contribute to the long-term sustainability of these communities and the African continent as a whole.

Visit the Official Webpage of the MTN Africa PachiPanda Challenge

The UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent Visual Identity Competition (All-expenses paid trip to New York)

Application Deadline: 1 st  November 2024  

As a newly established mechanism, the Permanent Forum is in the process of getting recognition and establishing its presence. This competition invites for the creation of a logo that will serve as both a distinctive symbol for the Permanent Forum and a reflection of the aspirations and essence of the people it represents. It provides an opportunity for artists from Africa and the diaspora to contribute to the design of its logo and for people of African descent to be involved in the decision-making process, ensuring that their voices are heard, their perspectives are valued, and a sense of ownership and inclusivity is fostered.

• The competition is opened to participants from all ages and nationalities, that are Africans or identify as people of African descent.
• Be submitted in vector format preferably (.ai,.svg or .eps). If the participant cannot submit it in vector format, a transparent TIF of the file in high quality must be sent (a minimum of 2500px).
• If the visual includes colours (a limited color palette is recommended), please also submit a single ink version. Please keep in mind that the file will be printed on different media and materials.
• The design should be scalable, as it will be used at a wide range of sizes.
• The Font used must support non-Latin alphabet, as the logo will be used in communications in all United Nations official languages, namely: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. For this purpose, the contestant may use the brand font of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR),  Futura Std  for the design, which would make the translation of the logo easier. The contestant can propose different layouts for using the type on the design, taking into account that the design needs to work in the other UN languages (the logo concept must still work when flipped for Arabic).

Please do not the UN emblem in your designs, including portions of the UN emblem.

The winner will be announced at the end of the year. The winner will be contacted before the announcement. The winner will receive:

• An all-expenses paid trip to New York to participate in the 4th session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent taking place from 14 to 17 April 2025. The winner will also be presented during the opening ceremony of the 4 th  session.
• Support the organization of an art exhibition during the session (provided that the winner has a portfolio that could be showcased in line with relevant UN policies)

Selection criteria

Contestants and their submissions will be judged on their originality, creativity, quality, and relevance to the themes addressed by the Permanent Forum. The choice will be made according to the discretion of the judges.

Submission Procedure:

• The proposals should be sent by  1 st  November 2024  to the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent at  [email protected]
• Each submission should include the name, age, nationality of the author, an explanation of the visual, and the visual itself in the format prescribed below.

Visit the Official Webpage of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent Visual Identity Competition

CIFOR-ICRAF Photo Competition 2024 for young creatives.

Application Deadline:  14 October 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024 CIFOR-ICRAF Photo Competition. Calling all professional photographers, photo enthusiasts, content creators, and nature lovers. Gear up to showcase the stunning beauty and critical importance of our planet’s biodiversity through the lens of your camera. Let’s inspire action to protect the richness of our natural world.

CIFOR-ICRAF invite you to capture the essential role of forests and trees in promoting biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and driving restoration efforts.

The CIFOR-ICRAF photo competition welcomes participants aged 18 or older. You are encouraged to use the photography equipment with which you are most comfortable. Employees of CIFOR-ICRAF are not eligible to enter. 

Please note the following rules:

• Entries should not include watermarks, signatures, or captions.
• Entries that have previously won other photography competitions will be automatically disqualified.
• Submissions featuring children or minors are not eligible.
• Entries generated using generative artificial intelligence tools or with their assistance are ineligible.
• Images portraying the willful harassment of wildlife will not be accepted.
• Photos taken in ways that cause or have caused environmental damage by the photographer, including capturing images in areas where human presence is restricted by authorities or property managers, are not eligible.
• Photos taken before the year 2010 will not be eligible.
• 1 st : USD 500

Jury selection first prize

• 2  nd : USD 400

Jury selection second prize

People’s choice award

The CIFOR-ICRAF team will email all finalists on  6 December 2024.   They will be invited to share a short video message about their photo and work. The best videos will be exhibited in our art gallery on  CIFOR-ICRAF’s digital platform   (more information to be announced).

Visit the Official Webpage of the CIFOR-ICRAF Photo Competition

NITDA Digital Nigeria Innovation Challenge 2024

Application Deadline: September 25, 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024 NITDA Digital Nigeria Innovation Challenge. The 2024 Digital Nigeria Innovation Challenge aims to harness the power of technology and innovation to address critical infrastructure challenges in Nigeria. Participants will collaborate in teams to create innovative digital maps of one Nigerian state, highlighting critical infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, roads, and utilities. These maps will provide insights that can drive sustainable development across Nigeria.

Participants will work in teams to:

• Identify critical infrastructure (from selected innovation challenge focus areas) in their respective states.
• Use mapping and visualization tools to create detailed, interactive digital maps.
• Present the findings in a way that tells a compelling story about the infrastructure needs and opportunities in their state.
• Submit their final project as a URL to a digital map that showcases the identified infrastructure and insights.
• Nigerian CitizenshipAll participants must be Nigerian citizens with a valid means of identification (National ID, Voter’s Card, International Passport, or Driver’s License).
• Age LimitParticipants must be 18 years and above at the time of registration to ensure legal participation and commitment.
• Team CompositionTeams must consist of 2 – 5 members, with a mix of technical and non-technical backgrounds, to encourage diverse problem-solving approaches. Participants must join as part of a team; individual entries will not be accepted

Focus Areas for Mapping:

Each team should select at least one (1) key area from the following:

Hospitals, clinics, and health centers.

Schools, colleges, and universities

Transportation

Roads, bridges, public transit.

Schools, colleges, and universities.

Water supply, electricity, and waste management.

Public Services

Police stations, fire stations, post offices, government offices.

Visit the Official Webpage of the NITDA Digital Nigeria Innovation Challenge

ICFJ/WHO Road Safety Reporting Competition 2024 for Journalists.

Application Deadline: October 29, 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024 ICFJ/WHO Road Safety Reporting Competition . The Road Safety Reporting Competition and Awards aims to help journalists produce stories that shine a light on road crash deaths and injuries in some of the hardest-hit countries.

According to the World Health Organization WHO, nearly 1.2 million people are killed in road traffic crashes each year – more than 2 every minute – representing the leading global cause of death among children and young adults aged 5 – 29.  The Road Safety Reporting Competition and Awards are implemented through ICFJ, supported by the  FIA Foundation  Richard Stanley Memorial Grant and the  WHO  through funding from  Bloomberg Philanthropies , to raise awareness and spur dialogue around critical, yet under-reported, road safety issues.

Eligibility Requirements.

• Have published in media outlets in Brazil, Botswana, India, Mexico, Nepal or Nigeria.
• Have published at least one story related to road safety. This contest will accept multimedia submissions, not solely print media.
• Submit a resume/curriculum vitae.
• To be considered, a road safety story must be published between January 1, 2024, and October 29, 2024.

Visit the Official Webpage of the ICFJ/WHO Road Safety Reporting Competition 2024

International Labour Organization (ILO) 2024 Global Media Competition on Labour Migration.

Application Deadline: 31 October 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024 ILO Global Media Competition on Labour Migration. The International Labour Organization (ILO) is launching the tenth edition of its annual  Global Media Competition . Its aim is to distinguish fair and balanced media reports on labour migration. This is especially important because of the impact that negative and stereotypical public narratives can have in terms of fueling discrimination and abusive practices towards migrant workers.

• The competition is open to  professional  and  student  journalists and will be judged by a panel of international migration, forced labour and journalism experts.
• The winning entries will be selected according to a range of criteria that takes into account creativity, accuracy, balance and the positive portrayal of labour migration, including the multidimensional aspects of migrant workers’ lives.
• Four professional prizes (including one special prize dedicated to forced labour and trafficking in person) and one student prize will be awarded. Winners can choose between a cash prize of US$1,200 in the professional category and US$500 in the student category, or a paid fellowship to participate in an online  ITC-Turin  fair recruitment or forced labour or labour migration course in 2025. 

How to Enter

• Complete the  online entry form  and submit your piece in the following formats: written press, photo essay, multimedia, podcast, video or radio.
• A submission in any language is welcome. However, an English, French or Spanish translation must be included.
• Students are allowed to submit a published or unpublished media piece.
• 31 October 2024  (23:59, Central European Time): Deadline for submissions, via the  online entry form . 
• December 2024 : Competition winners will be announced to celebrate International Migrants Day.

Visit the Official Webpage of the ILO Global Media Competition on Labour Migration.

UNDP’s Tax for SDGs Undergraduate Essay Competition 2024 for young Nigerian Students.

Application Deadline: 1 October 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024 UNDP’s Tax for SDGs Undergraduate Essay Competition . The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is dedicated to raising awareness and sparking new ideas to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Tax for SDGs Initiative plays a key role in this mission by highlighting how effective taxation can fund sustainable development.

In line with this, UNDP Nigeria is excited to launch an Undergraduate Essay Competition . This contest invites students to share their thoughts and propose solutions on how tax policies can drive progress toward the SDGs in Nigeria. Top essays will be adapted into policy briefs.

Participants are encouraged to write on one of the following thematic areas:

• Exploring the potential of Innovative Tax Policies and Strategies to drive sustainable development for progress towards  closing the SDGs financing Gap  in Nigeria.
• Exploring linkages between inclusive and sustainable tax systems on environmental sustainability, digital economy and trade.
• Strengthening tax systems to combat Illicit Financial Flows in Nigeria for progress towards  closing the SDGs financing Gap  in Nigeria.

The competition is open to all undergraduate Nigerian students in any discipline, currently enrolled in a recognized university or college in the country.

Participating students must submit a national identification, their university identification from their university.

Submission Guidelines

• Essay Length: Essays should be between 1,500 and 2,000 words.
• Language: Submissions should be in English.
• Format: Essays must be typed, double-spaced, and submitted in PDF.
• Originality: Submissions must be original and unpublished. Plagiarism will result in disqualification. Do not use AI.
• Deadline: All entries must be submitted by 1 October 2024.
• Submission: Essays should be submitted electronically via  https://tinyurl.com/Tax4SDGs .

Awards and Recognition

• First Prize: NGN 1,000,000 and a certificate of recognition.
• Second Prize: NGN 750,000 and a certificate of recognition.
• Third Prize: NGN 500,000 and a certificate of recognition.
• Launch Date: 28 August 2024
• Submission Deadline: 1 October 2024
• Winners Announcement: 29 October 2024

There will be consolation prizes for other top entries.

Visit the Official Webpage of the UNDP’s Tax for SDGs Undergraduate Essay Competition .

Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation’s Science without Borders® Challenge 2025 International Art Competition

Application Deadline: March 3, 2025 , t

Applications are now open for the 2025 Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation’s Science without Borders® Challenge.

The  Science Without Borders® Challenge  is an international contest that engages students and teachers in ocean conservation through art. This annual competition inspires students to be creative while promoting public awareness of the need to preserve, protect, and restore the world’s oceans and aquatic resources, contributing to the overarching goals of the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation. The  Challenge  is open to primary and secondary

This international art competition is open to all students 11-19 years old. Students must be enrolled in primary or secondary school, or the home school equivalent. College and university students are not eligible for this contest.

Work will be judged in two categories based on age, with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes awarded for each:

• Students 11-14 years old
• Students 15-19 years old

Winners of the  Science Without Borders® Challenge  will be awarded with the following scholarships:

• 1st Place: $500
• 2nd Place: $350
• 3rd Place: $200

Visit the Official Webpage of the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation’s Science without Borders® Challenge

The Google News Initiative JournalismAI Innovation Challenge 2024/2025

Application Deadline: 10 October 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024/2025 Google News Initiative JournalismAI Innovation Challenge. The JournalismAI Innovation Challenge, supported by the Google News Initiative , aims to fund projects from these news publishers to help fight misinformation and disinformation, experiment with new formats across mobile, video and audio and identify ways to grow subscription and support diverse forms of revenue.

This nine-month long programme is designed by the JournalismAI team at the London School of Economics and Political Science ( LSE ) and supported by the Google News Initiative .

This new grantmaking programme will enable 35 news organisations around the world to experiment and implement solutions to enhance and improve journalistic systems and processes using AI technologies. By the end of the programme, selected organisations will also share outcomes of their respective projects, and best practices about using AI technologies in the news industry.

• Government-owned entities or entities affiliated/owned by a political party are not eligible to apply.
• Eligible applicants must have a verifiable digital presence (such as a website primarily providing journalistic content) and have been in full operation – and active with recent content – for at least 12 months preceding the call for applications
• Eligible applicants must be able to launch, implement, and measure the impact of the grant on their organisation within a maximum nine (9) month period.
• This is  not  a reporting or storytelling grant and funding must not be used to report and produce stories primarily. Eligible ideas will use AI to focus and develop solutions for these thematic areas:
• Help fight misinformation and disinformation
• Experiment with new formats to engage new and existing audiences across mobile, video, audio.
• Identify ways to grow subscriptions and support diverse forms of revenue.
• You are willing to share business insights and openly collaborate with other grantees, as well as track results throughout and submit a short report of your performance at the end of the programme.

Grants will be awarded as follows:

• 10 ideas will receive $250,000 each
• 25 ideas will receive $50,000 each

Application Process

• Apply by submitting the application form. You can save the application form by clicking “save” and return to it until you have completed it and are ready to submit.
• You will be emailed a link to your application, which you can return to until 10 October 2024 [23:59, GMT ] . Once the application is submitted, it can no longer be edited.
• Only applications in English, received via the Jotform platform by the stated date and time will be considered. You will receive an email confirmation of your submission.

Visit the Official Webpage of the Google News InitiativeJournalismAI Innovation Challenge

The International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) 2025 International Poster Contest ($500 prize)

Application Deadline: November 1, 2024, 12 midnight EST

Applications are now open for the 2025 ICAW International Poster Contest. Each year, the International Compost Awareness Week Committee holds a poster contest to pick a design for the annual poster. There is always a new theme for ICAW, which is highlighted on the poster as well as that year’s dates. ICAW is always held the first full week of May. The dates for 2025 are  May 4 – 10 . The poster contest is open to anyone from anywhere in the world age 14 or older.

REQUIREMENT CHECKLIST Entries will be eliminated if requirements are not followed exactly. Please read before you enter and make sure your poster has everything it needs.

• Only One Entry Per Person
• Size is 12” wide X 18” vertical (this is in inches)
• Resolution is 300 dpi in jpg format
• Poster contains the theme name:  Sustainable Communities Begin with Compost!
• Poster contains the words:  International Compost Awareness Week
• Poster contains the date:  May 4 – 10, 2025
• Do not add additional words to your poster. Only the theme and International Compost Awareness Week and May 4-10, 2025 are allowed. Any changes to those words or additions will automatically eliminate your entry.
• If you have a photograph as part of your poster, please confirm that either you took the photo or you have obtained legal rights to use the photo.
• Important to know before you start your design,  posters cannot be an AI generated design . Any AI designed posters will be eliminated.

Submission Requirement

You must complete the online entry form application and checklist, and submit your poster online. Please include a short paragraph on why you chose to participate in the ICAW 2025 poster contest and give an explanation of your poster concept.  

The poster must include the following: International Compost Awareness Week May 4 – 10, 2025 Sustainable Communities Begin with Compost!

Visit the Official Webpage of the ICAW International Poster Contest.

UNDRR Africa Youth Art Competition 2024 for Young Artists (Fully Funded to Windhoek, Namibia)

Application Deadline: 13 September 2024.

Applications are now open for the 2024 UNDRR Africa Youth Art Competition. Young artists – amateurs or professionals- are encouraged to submit a piece that fits into IDDRR2024 theme and raise awareness on Disaster Risk Reduction. The photos of the art submitted will be showcased at the  Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction  in Windhoek, Namibia, scheduled for 21-24 October 2024. 

 The DRR Art Competition organized by Africa Youth Advisory Board on Disaster Risk Reduction (AYAB),  Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism (SEM)  and UNDRR aims to enhance awareness and understanding of disaster risk reduction (DRR) among young people, while also fostering creativity and artistic expression on the theme of DRR. The competition seeks to showcase the talent, voices and unique perspectives of young artists, inspiring both action and community engagement in DRR efforts.

• The competition theme will be  “Empowering the Next Generation for a Resilient Future: A Creative Response to Disaster risk.”  
• Artists are encouraged to explore various aspects of DRR that aligns to the AfRP theme “Act Now for the Resilient Africa We Want” and programme.
• UNDRR welcome the participation of young individuals, aged between  18 and 35 , from across  Africa .
• This initiative seeks to amplify their unique perspectives and experiences, recognizing their vital role in documenting and responding to climate challenges.
• The overall winner will receive an invitation to attend the Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, with travel and accommodation covered.
• The top 30 participants will have a photo or video representation of their art piece screened at the Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.
• Submission Deadline: 13 September 2024.
• Announcement of the winner: 20 September 2024

How to Apply:

• Please fill out the  Microsoft form  with all the requested information about the artist and the art piece. Include a link to a digital version of the art piece that can be downloaded (e.g., via Google Drive or YouTube).
• Example: If you create a drawing, take a photo of the drawing, upload it to your Google Drive, and make sure the link is accessible to anyone with the link. Then, complete the Microsoft form and, on the second page, add the link to the photo on your Google Drive.

Visit the Official Webpage of the UNDRR Africa Youth Art Competition.

Commonwealth Short Story Prize Writing Contest 2025 for unpublished short fiction (£5,000 in Cash Prize)

Application Deadline: 2 November 2024, 12 pm GMT

Applications are now open for the 2025 Commonwealth Short Story Prize Writing Contest. The prize is free to enter and open to any citizen of a Commonwealth country aged 18 and over. It is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2,000–5,000 words).

• Entrants must be citizens of a Commonwealth country – please see Section 5 for the list of Commonwealth countries – or stateless persons currently residing in a Commonwealth country. The Commonwealth Foundation will request verification of citizenship status before winners are selected. Entries from citizens of nonCommonwealth countries are not eligible.
• For regional purposes, entries will be judged by country of citizenship. Where the writer has dual citizenship (of two Commonwealth countries), the entry will be judged in the region where the writer is permanently resident.
• There is no requirement for the writer to have current residence in a Commonwealth country, providing that they are a citizen of a Commonwealth country.
• Entrants must be aged 18 years or over on 1 November 2024.
• All entries will be accepted at the discretion of the Commonwealth Foundation which will exercise its judgement, in consultation with the prize chair, in ruling on questions of eligibility. The ruling of the chair on questions of eligibility is final, and no further correspondence will be entered into.
• Entries from previous overall winners of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize are not eligible. Entrants who have won the regional prize three times are also not eligible to submit to the prize.
• Entries from current members of staff at the Commonwealth Foundation are not eligible.
• Entries must be unpublished and remain unpublished in any language until 1 May 2025.
• If your entry has been shortlisted or won a prize in other competitions, provided it has not been published, it is eligible.
• The regional winners receive £2,500 and the overall winner receives a total of £5,000.
• The winning stories are published online by  Granta  and in a special print collection by  Paper + Ink .
• The shortlisted stories are published in  adda , the online literary magazine of the Commonwealth Foundation.

If the winning short story is a translation into English, the translator will receive an additional prize of £750.

Selection Criteria

• An international judging panel of writers will select a shortlist of around twenty stories, from which five regional winners are chosen.
• One of the regional winners is then selected as the overall winner, who receives £5,000. The regional winners will receive £2,500.

For any inquiries regarding the prize, please email: [email protected]

Visit the Official Webpage of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize Writing Contest

The Earth Prize Environmental Sustainability Competition 2025 for students ($100,000)

Application Deadline: November 30th, 2024

Applications are now open for the 2025 Earth Prize Environmental Sustainability Competition for students. The Earth Prize, the world’s largest environmental competition for young people, has seen participation from teams in over 150 countries during its first three annual editions. It aims to inspire and empower the next generation of environmental leaders and innovators, creating a global platform for sharing and scaling their solutions. Starting with the 2025 edition, there will be seven regional winners, each receiving $12,500 to implement their ideas. The regions are Oceania, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, North America, and Central & South America. Additionally, The Earth Prize will recognize three mentors and three educators of the year, awarding each $2,500.

• Participants must have been born between 2005 and 2011 and be registered in a school or educational program.
• 1st Sep. 2024 – 30th Nov. 2024: Registration Phase
• 31st Jan. 2025: Submissions Phase
• 14th February 2025: The Earth Prize Scholars Announcement
• 14th Feb. 2025- 28th Feb. 2025: Scholars Phase
• 28th Feb. 2025 -28th Mar. 2025: Regional Winners Phase
• 1st Apr. 2025 – 7th Apr. 2025: The Earth Prize Regional Winners Announcement
• 7th Apr. 2025- 22nd Apr. 2025: Public Voting Phase
• 22nd Apr. 2025: The Earth Prize Awards Ceremony

HOW TO APPLY

• Registration is open from September 1st until November 30th.
• Fill out the online registration form to get access to My Earth Prize Platform, where you will have access to our exclusive content and mentoring
• Make sure that your Supervisor or Team Lead (who could be you, if you are a student) registers and creates your team on the Submissions Portal.
• Complete the necessary team information and get thinking!

Visit the Official Webpage of the Earth Prize Environmental Sustainability Competition

MTN mPulse Spelling Bee Competition 2024 For young Nigerians (₦24 million worth of prizes)

Applications are now open for the 2024 MTN mPulse Spelling Bee Competition. The MTN mPulse Spelling Bee is a spelling competition being organized by MTN Nigeria for students between the ages of 9 and 15 who are on the mPulse tariff plan.

Competition Details

The competition comprises 3 rounds:

• 1st round with 10 spelling questions to be held on mpulse.mtn.ng.
• 2nd round with 20 spelling questions to be held on mpulse.mtn.ng for only shortlisted students from the 1st Round.
• Grand finale to be held on-ground in Lagos and streamed on  mpulse.mtn.ng
• Student –  5million Naira scholarship grant, 1 laptop, 1 smartphone and mPulse goody bag.
• School –  ICT Lab (10 Laptop), 10 MTN Hynetflex
• Teacher –  ₦500,000 cash
• Student –  2.5million Naira scholarship grant, 1 laptop, 1 smartphone and mPulse goody bag.
• Teacher –  ₦300,000 cash
• Student –  1.5 million Naira scholarship grant, 1 laptop, 1 smartphone and mPulse goody bag.
• Teacher –  ₦200,000 cash

4th-10th Finalists

₦500,000 cash prize each and mPulse goody bag

11th-20th Finalists

₦200,000 cash prize and mPulse goody bag

Participation Procedure

• The competition is only open to Nigerian students between the ages of 9 – 15years in primary and secondary schools.
• Parents are not allowed to participate in this game.
• You must register as a student to participate.
• Take the Practice test quiz as many times as possible.
• Click on Play Annually to participate in the competition.
• Top 20 finalist must be on the MTN mPulse tariff plan.
• Click here to migrate or dial *344*1# if you are not on the mPulse tariff plan.
• Have an account?  Please Login
• Don’t have an account?  Please sign up

Visit the Official Webpage of the MTN mPulse Spelling Bee Competition

MEST Africa Challenge 2024 for early-stage technology startups ($50,000 in equity)

Application Deadline: October 4, 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024 MEST Africa Challenge. The MEST Africa Challenge (MAC) is a Pan-African pitch competition for early-stage technology startups seeking to ramp up traction and growth. . This year will mark the 6th edition of MAC. MEST will provide the winning startup with investment capital, coaching and access to a global network of resources and partners as they build and scale successful businesses that add value to African economies and livelihoods.

This year, contestants for MAC will be based in West Africa with a focus on the following key markets: Benin, Cape Verde, Côte D’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Mali and Togo. For the first time, MAC will also place a sectoral emphasis on agri-tech,  recognizing its immense potential to drive sustainable development and economic growth in Africa.

To be eligible for the program, Startups can apply if they meet the following criteria:

• Early-stage Agritech startup
• Monthly Recurring Revenue: A minimum of $5k
• Funding raised: $0 to $1M cumulative
• Years in existence: 3 years and below
• Traction: At least 6 months of recurring revenue
• Must be operating in one of the 14 MAC countries (Benin, Cape Verde, Côte D’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Mali and Togo)
• Founding team: At least 2 founding team members
• Registered in Delaware (This is preferred)
• Any business model (B2B, B2C, B2B2C, B2G etc…)
• All participants must pitch in English
• Win $50,000: Stand the chance of winning $50,000 in equity
• Global Visibility: Gain visibility from investors & potential partners
• A lifetime of Support: Get lifetime benefits from MEST’s community
• Partner Prizes: Win prizes and perks from MEST strategic partners

Competition Stages

The competition consists of five stages starting with the online application. Successful applicants will then proceed to the following stages.

• Stage 1: Online application
• Stage 2: Selection of Top 20 semi finalists
• Stage 3: Virtual semi-finals (Top 20 applicants)
• Stage 4: Selection of Top 5 finalists
• Stage 5: Final Demo Day in Accra

Visit the Official Webpage of the MEST Africa Challenge

The Commonwealth Ocean Champions Competition 2024 for young changemakers.

Application Deadline: unspecified

Applications are now open for the 2024 Commonwealth Ocean Champions Competition. A virtual ocean hackathon and symposium was launched on 12 August by the Blue Charter Ocean Youth Working Group to coincide with  International Youth Day . The working group is inviting young people with innovative ideas from across the Commonwealth to compete for a chance to secure funding to assist with the implementation of their projects. The youth group, launched at COP28 in December 2023, actively engages young people across the 56 Commonwealth countries in topics on the ocean and climate change. 

• Open to young people aged 15 – 29 years old from Commonwealth countries. 
• Submissions, by filling the  application form , can be from an individual or a team.  
• A solution to at least one issue from the Commonwealth Blue Charter action areas must be developed. 
• Must be a member of the Blue Charter Ocean Youth Working Group  

Program Details

• Winners will be announced at the Ocean Symposium at the upcoming  Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting  in Samoa and COP29 in Azerbaijan.
• They will also be required to submit a blog post with photos at the 3rd, 6th and 9th month intervals after winning to showcase their progress.  

email the group at  [email protected] . 

Visit the Official Webpage of the Commonwealth Ocean Champions Competition

The Emerald Publishing Africa & Middle East Case Writing Competition 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024 Emerald Publishing Africa & Middle East Case Writing Competition. The Emerald Publishing   invite authors based at African or Middle Eastern higher education institutions, including Türkiye and Pakistan, to submit business teaching cases focused on emerging markets in their region. Participants can win up to $1,000 and have their case study published globally.

The aim of the competition is to encourage and promote the development of high-quality teaching case material relevant to the realities of dynamic and emerging economies in Africa, the Middle East, Türkiye, and Pakistan. At the same time, we also seek to promote the development of case-writing capabilities with those same regions.

Entry Criteria

Your case should:

• Have a developing and emerging markets focus from Africa, the Middle East, Türkiye, or Pakistan.
• Be written by authors based at higher education institutions in these same countries.
• Be based on a real situation in a real company.
• Be a teaching case, we cannot accept academic (research) cases.
• Not have been published before in its current or substantially similar form or be under consideration for publication in any ISSN/ ISBN-registered publication or with any other case centre.
• Meet the standard EMCS author guidelines ( more below ).
• Include a completed and signed  consent to publish release form .
• Your case will be automatically entered into the peer-review process. Selected cases will be published in the Scopus-ranked EMCS collection (ISSN 2045 0621). By participating in the competition, you are agreeing to publish your case study in EMCS, subject to acceptance for publication after peer review and revisions (if required).
• The total prize pool is worth $2,000, including $1,000 to the winner and $500 each to two runners up!

Submission Criteria

• To enter the competition, you will submit your case study through the  Emerging Markets Case Studies collection  on ScholarOne Manuscripts.

Visit the Official Webpage of the Emerald Publishing Africa & Middle East Case Writing Competition

Heinrich Böll Stiftung Global Feminist Pitch 2024 for aspiring Feminist Documentary Filmmakers.

Application Deadline: September 22, 2024 .

Applications are now open for the 2024 Heinrich Böll Stiftung Global Feminist Pitch. The Global Feminist Pitch supports  young feminists from countries of the Global South  with the aim to make solidarities between feminists and feminist movements worldwide visible through different formats. In 2024-2025, the Global Feminist Pitch will give five feminists from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Middle East or (South) Eastern Europe the chance to  document feminist protest culture  from their region in the form of a 15-minute documentary film that will be produced by Deblokada Production from Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and become part of a film omnibus/anthology film. 

In this process, they will be supported by the Global Unit for Feminism and Gender Democracy, Deblokada Production, and experts from the industry through workshops, consultations, and feedback sessions. The finished documentary film will have a premiere at the end of 2025/beginning of 2026. The documentary film will depict the power of feminist protest culture, contribute to the global debate on feminist movements, complement the existing discourse, and provide feminists, activists, and organisations with insights on how feminism is lived in different regions of the world.

• You are between 25 and 35 years old  1 ;
• You come from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Middle East or (South) Eastern Europe;
• You have a good command of the English language;
• You are an aspiring documentary filmmaker with the relevant experience and background;
• You have the necessary equipment for filming (picture and sound);
• You have a feminist background and you have worked on feminist issues before;
• You have the interest and time to be a part of the Global Feminist Pitch until August 2025.

Five  feminist filmmakers  from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Middle East, and (South) Eastern Europe with the  best proposals and the relevant experience  will be selected to participate in the Global Feminist Pitch. The five feminist filmmakers will receive:

• he agreed honorarium as a compensation for their work;
• the assistance of the Global Unit for Feminism and Gender Democracy and Deblokada Production throughout the duration of the Global Feminist Pitch;
• the possibility to participate in online workshops, learn from experts in the industry, and connect with other feminist filmmakers from different parts of the world;
• the possibility to have their 15-minute documentary film be part of a film omnibus, produced by Deblokada Production and released by the Global Unit for Feminism and Gender Democracy.
• You are interested and think you meet the expectations? Send your resume, your proposal in reference to the aforementioned thematic focus, and examples of relevant previous work to  [email protected] .
• The  submission deadline  is midnight CEST on  September 22, 2024 . We strongly encourage early applications.

Visit the Official Webpage of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Global Feminist Pitch

The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) My Adaptation Solution Video Competition 2024

Application Deadline: September 26, 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024 Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) My Adaptation Solution Video Competition . The Youth Climate Adaptation Action Day, organized by the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) on the 12th of October 2024, is the largest-running annual youth adaptation event taking place in over 100 countries around the world. This day is dedicated to mobilizing, showcasing, and celebrating the potential of young people to innovate and accelerate climate adaptation solutions. Youths across the world are invited to participate in this day of climate adaptation celebration 

The Youth Climate Adaptation Action Day will:

Drive  knowledge sharing for youth-led adaptation actions in Africa and around the world.

Build  the youth adaptation movement with schools, universities, and youth organizations.

Raise  awareness and increase the knowledge of young people on climate adaptation.

• Are you between 18-35 years old and leading the fight against climate change?
• Have you developed an innovative and creative adaptation solution?
• Share your adaptation solution with the world by entering your one-minute video in the My Climate Adaptation Solution Video Competition. 

The winners will be announced on  11th October 2024  by the CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation. Public voting opens on the  30th of September  and closes on the  7th of October .

Submission Requirements

To enter, submit your video to the Google Drive using the following steps:

• Share the Video : Open the video file, click the three dots to the right and select ‘Share’. Copy the link and ensure that the access level is set to ‘Viewer’.
• Name your Submission : The video should be titled: Participant’s name_Title
• Access your Google Drive .
• Upload the Video File : Locate the ‘New’ button on the left side of the Google Drive. Select ‘file upload’ and click the video file you want to select.
• Monitor the Upload : Wait for the file to appear on the Google Drive.

Visit the Official Webpage of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) My Adaptation Solution Video Competition

The Paradigm Initiative (PIN) Creative Design Competition 2024 for young African creatives.

Application Deadline: August 30, 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024 Paradigm Initiative (PIN) Creative Design Competition. Through the #AfricaConnected campaign, Paradigm Initiative gives you the chance to creatively highlight your country’s internet challenges or opportunities.

Are a young African between the ages of 18-30 participate in this competition to showcase your creativity. 

•  For   young Africans living on the continent between the ages of  18-30 .

How to Participate

• Create  graphics , i nfographics , i llustrations ,  comics  or  motion graphics  that raise awareness about the digital divide and its impact on education, economic empowerment, employment, and civic participation in your region.
• Post your submissions on your social media handles, tagging Paradigm Initiative. Our social media handles include:  Facebook  – Paradigm Initiative  |LinkedIn  – Paradigm Initiative  |Instagram  – paradigmhq  | X   -@ParadigmHQ  |TikTok  – @ParadigmhqAll submissions should end with the hashtags  #ParadigmInitiative  and  #AfricaConnected  and tag  @paradigmhq
• Visual arts and graphic submissions can include digital posters, infographics, illustrations, comics and motion graphics.
• All Submissions should be high-resolution to ensure quality.
• Submissions should be made in English or French.
• Please see specified timeline for each region below.

For questions or inquiries, contact  [email protected]

Visit the Official Webpage of the Paradigm Initiative (PIN) Creative Design Competition

Africa Soft Power Climate Change Photo Essay Prize 2024 for young Africans.

Application Deadline: September 20 th , 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024 Africa Soft Power Climate Change Photo Essay Prize. The Climate Change Photo Essay Prize calls upon 18 – 30-year-olds from Africa and the global diaspora community to document the environmental changes happening before their very eyes. After the success of the first-ever edition of the Climate Change Photo Essay Prize in 2023, we are thrilled to launch the second edition of the prize with the theme –  “At a crossroad: Climate and change”.

The Climate Change Photo Essay Prize  is run by Africa Soft Power (ASP), in association with  African Women Board (AWB)  as part of the ‘ Road to 100 Million Climate Soldiers in Africa ’ campaign. The campaign is focused on climate education, which we view as the first step in securing climate solutions. Our goal is to educate and empower 100 million young Africans in the fight against climate change, which we will measure through the reach of each of the campaign’s projects.

Visit the Official Webpage of the Africa Soft Power Climate Change Photo Essay Prize

The Melton Foundation SDG Innovation Challenge 2024 for young Africans.

Application Deadline: 31 August, 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024 Melton Foundation SDG Innovation Challenge . Designed as a virtual, pan-African innovation space, the SDG Innovation Challenge is a powerhouse for young Africans (16 – 35 years) to develop cross-boundary, sustainable solutions to grassroots challenges that further social impact and contribute towards the  Sustainable Development Goals  (SDGs).

Innovation is a force that sets the engine of sustainable development running, uncovering initiatives that build resilience, contribute to more equitable resource distribution, further inclusion, alleviate environmental stress, and so on! Moreover, and in alignment with  SDG 17  (Partnerships For The Goals), we emphasize collaboration and partnerships as a central axis around which our efforts are oriented!

In collaboration with the  Global Goals Week  (20 -29 September 2024), the  SDG INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2024  supports the annual week of action, awareness, and accountability for the Sustainable Development Goals, promising to join hands with local, regional, and global partners to nurture fresh thinking and supercharge sustainable, inclusive solutions for people and the planet.

All startups/projects should:

• Have a connection to the theme  Bridging Social Innovation Gaps: Propelling Youth-led Innovations for Sustainable Development
• Connect to one or more Focus Areas  (see below)
• Have clarity about how they contribute to the  Sustainable Development Goals
• Be in an early stage of project development (0.5 – 2 years)
• Have initial evidence of impact and potential to scale
• Target a specific community or location in Africa
• Be socio-economically viable, entrepreneurial, and/or scalable in their approach
• Contribute to change of mindset and behavior in their community
• Contribute to creating a more inclusive society
• Should further decent work, digital transformation, partnerships, and collaborations.

Focus Areas:

• Energy & Carbon Reduction
• Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH)
• Health & Wellbeing
• Food & Nutrition (Agriculture)

Applicants must:

• Share a passion, drive, and commitment to improving livelihoods in their community.
• Have a genuine interest in sustainable development and a desire to contribute to the SDGs at the grassroots level and beyond.
• Be able to work with team from different domains, cultures, and geographies.
• Have the motivation to work in an agile hackathon-like environment to pivot their startup/project.
• Have curiosity, open-mindedness & desire to reimagine how we tackle SDGs.
• Have a 0.5 – 2 years old project and belong to a youth-led startup or project team (4-7 people)
• Commit to the innovation process and be eager to develop and/or rethink their startup/project for more sustainable impact
• Ensure that their schedule allows for full participation throughout the different phases of the SDG Innovation Challenge.
• Have access to a laptop/desktop computer and stable internet connectivity.  (Basic knowledge of G-suite & eagerness to explore new technologies is recommended, too.)
• Access to an unorthodox, dynamic, and diverse platform of youth activists, organizations, and legislators  –  Tap into a conducive online space to converge around practical SDG solutions.
• A much-needed opportunity to visualize and implement the SDGs at the grassroots level  –  Participate in the making of our future and jumpstart your involvement in the sustainable development agenda as a responsible, impact-oriented social entrepreneur.
• Immense networking potential  –  Build connections, and be part of a community of practice around eco-systemic, collaborative solutions.
• A space to exercise your global citizenship muscle  –  Sharpen and hone skills in leadership, innovation, cross-sector collaboration, analytic thinking, interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, and allied areas.
• Sourcing diversity of thought, background, and sector  –  Collaborate with people from many different domains, including engineering, design, civic policy, social justice reform, project management, finance, education, and many others.
• Activate resources to further the SDG impact of your startup/project  –   unlock tangible and intangible perks, including global visibility, prize money, tailored support, access to high-impact network(s), and more.

To participate virtually on 12-14 September, you must  register by 31 August, 2024  before 11:59 PM GMT.

Before applying, here are some rules to keep in mind:

• Only teams of 4 to 7 people can apply!   One team member must complete the application on behalf of the entire team. The person applying on behalf of the team can start the application and save it to continue at a later date. Important to keep in mind is that (a) only one application per team is allowed, and (2) applications must be submitted by the application deadline.
• Any idea entering the challenge must be at an early stage at the most!   This is an ideation space, not an accelerator program. If you have an already well refined project or if you are not open to re-think your approach or bringing different perspectives on board: do not apply. We’re here to spark fresh thinking, unearth novel ideas through cross-boundary collaboration, and converge around SDG solutions. It’s that mindset that will result in the biggest, most transformative impact, starting with your participation in the SDG Innovation Challenge.
• Be committed to develop your startup/project during and after the challenge!   We expect participants to be present throughout the entire challenge, attend virtual sessions, respect deadlines, and contribute to the success of their innovation team by working together on improving improve startup/project for greater SDG impact.

All applications will be screened and undergo a pre-selection. We are inclusive in our approach and encourage young Africans to participate, regardless of their background, gender, physical or cognitive abilities.

Visit the Official Webpage of the Melton Foundation SDG Innovation Challenge

UNESCO Global Media and Information Literacy Week Youth Hackathon 2024

Application Deadline: 26 August 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024 UNESCO Global Media and Information Literacy Week Youth Hackathon. The Youth Hackathon, an integral component of the Global MIL Week, offers a global stage for youth participation and engagement, aiming to harness innovation and youth-led initiatives to respond to the Week’s theme, in particular the growing role of digital content creators and influencers in the information landscape; and the challenges posed by artificial intelligence. 

The winning teams will be invited to Amman, Jordan, on October 30 and 31 to present their projects during the closing ceremony of the Global MIL Week Feature Conference. 

• Teams will comprise 3-6 members (ensuring gender parity, teams can be national, regional, or international).
• Members must be aged between 18 and 30 years old and adhere to UNESCO’s values such as peace, respect for diversity, freedom of expression.
• No previous experience is required.

Solution categories

• Applications/Websites
• Radio programmes/Podcasts
• Educational toolkits
• Creative community-based interventions (non-technology focused)
• Other creative modalities for innovative interventions

Tasks and Challenges

The participants will focus on one of the following topics to design innovative solution and scheme their proposals:

• Empowering youth to become active participants in shaping the digital spaces they inhabit, finding ways to promote public interest information rather than passive consumers of information. 
• Exploring innovative solutions to address the challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence.
• Exploring receptive and effective approaches to Media and Information Literacy Education and Capacity Building through Peer education and Feeding Education.
• Activating Youth Organizations to be agents of change through collaborating with digital content creators.
• 5 July 2024: Registration opens
• 26 August 2024: Registration ends
• 28-29 August 2024: Two-day online mentoring programme offered to all registered participants
• 8 September 2024: Deadline for submissions
• 9-20 September 2024: Judging process
• 31 October 2024: Presentation of the winning projects during the closing ceremony of the Global MIL Week Conference in Amman, Jordan.  

Submission format

Each submission to include a document presenting the solution and a 3-minute video pitch (a creative format is strongly recommended). They must include:

• The team composition
• Problem statement, objectives, audience, and alignment with this year’s challenges
• Explanation of the prototype
• Feasibility
• Sustainability
• Deployment strategies / Business model and evidence of market validation

Visit the Official Webpage of the UNESCO Global Media and Information Literacy Week Youth Hackathon

ReSAKSS Data Challenge 2024 for Data Enthusiasts

Application Deadline: August 20, 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024 ReSAKSS Data Challenge . AKADEMIYA2063  is launching the fifth edition of the  ReSAKSS Data Challenge ! This competition allows enthusiastic data users to showcase their creativity and analytical skills by using data and other resources on the  ReSAKSS  website and related digital platforms to develop innovative knowledge products or projects that address  Africa’s  development challenges.

The  Annual ReSAKSS challenge  is an Africa-wide – diaspora included – four  (4)-category challenge  encouraging participants to use their  imagination  to generate  innovative knowledge ,  tools,  and  content . Prizes will be awarded to the best entries in the following categories:

Category 1 –  Essays and Reports:  The most innovative research paper, article, essay, or journal article bringing solutions to African issues.

Category 2 –  Visual Arts:  The most innovative infographic, illustration, video

Category 3 –  IT products and services:  The most innovative applications and tools

Category 4 –  High School Projects:  The most innovative high school project

• The  ReSAKSS DATA challenge  is an opportunity for researchers and analysts to experiment, discover new tools, and create a community of practice that will work data in the most innovative way.
• It will enable other groups of actors, whether in business, the media, or arts, to create content in their own liner of occupation. It allows civil society organizations to develop content for advocacy. More generally, diverse communities with different backgrounds can come together  use data to generate knowledge , discuss and exchange on their common  interest for data .
• Targeted  participants  include but are  not limited  to  researchers, analysts,  and  students in all disciplines, artists, media specialists, coders, developers, high school teams,  anyone  in Africa  and from  the diaspora  who is passionate about  data  and willing to create an  innovative content, product  or  service  relevant to social and economic development  issues facing African countries .

Visit the Official Webpage of the ReSAKSS Data Challenge

Jacaranda FM Business Plan Her Perfect Pitch Competition 2024 for female Entrepreneurs.

Application Deadline: 31 August 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024 Jacaranda FM Business Plan Her Perfect Pitch Competition.

Jacaranda FM is once again shining the spotlight on female entrepreneurs with Her Perfect Pitch 2024 . This incredible competition is set to transform one lucky businesswomen’s life, offering over R2 million in business assistance.

Her Perfect Pitch aims to elevate female entrepreneurs, empower women, and foster business success. 

To participate in the Competition, the participant must:

• Hold a South African identity document or valid Visa if a foreign person.
• Live in the Republic of South Africa.
• Be a woman in business with a minimum of 50% ownership.
• Be 18 years and older.
• Have a business registered in South Africa.
• Have a business that is at least a year old.
• Provide correct and full personal contact details.

Grand Prize

The grand prize winner will receive:

• R500 000 worth of advertising on Jacaranda FM
• Conceptualisation, production, and creation of a radio advert, plus digital amplification
• Tailor-made business model
• Research consultation
• Branding consultation
• Digital and PR consultation

Top 10 Perks

Each of the top 10 finalists will also receive  R100 000 worth of airtime  on Jacaranda FM!

Entry Process

Elevate your business to new levels of success! Apply today to access exclusive growth opportunities and shape a brighter future.

• Step 1: Create your profile
• Step 2: Complete the application form

You’ll need to set aside some time to do this, as you’ll be asked to submit your financial statements as well as to tell us more about your business, your vision, USPs etc.

• Step 3: Top 30 applicants will be selected

…and invited to a networking session. The Top 30 entrants will also be required to prepare and submit a 2-minute video pitch for their business.

• Step 4: Top 10 finalists will be selected

…and invited to pitch their business live to a panel of judges at the Jacaranda FM studios in Johannesburg.

• Step 5: The top three finalists will be announced on-air by Jacaranda FM.

Visit the Official Webpage of the Jacaranda FM Business Plan Her Perfect Pitch Competition

 Irish Aid SDG Challenge 2024 for Sustainable Solutions

Application Deadline: 8 October 2024 ( 13:00 Dublin Local Time ).  

Applications are now open for the 2024 Irish Aid SDG Challenge. The SDG Challenge seeks to support diverse, transdisciplinary teams to develop transformative, sustainable solutions that will contribute to addressing development challenges under the UN SDGs in countries where Irish Aid works.   

Solutions must demonstrate context-specific expected impact in one of Irish Aid’s partner countries but applicants are also encouraged to consider broader opportunities where solutions may have wider impact and may foster learning for regional and sub-regional use.   

Funding is available for collaborative research teams based in eligible research institutions in Ireland and partner countries. Successful teams will be awarded up to €300k and will work through a series of phases to develop their idea. An overall prize award of €1M will be available to the team that demonstrates the highest potential for transformative impact.

• The SDG Challenge is intended to support highly motivated, transdisciplinary teams committed to developing transformative, sustainable solutions that will contribute to addressing development challenges under the UN SDGs in Irish Aid’s partner countries. It is expected that teams will encompass a range of technical and non-technical skills to address barriers associated with challenge definition and solution deployment, and that they will represent collaborative and equitable partnerships between researchers in Ireland and the partner country.   
• Teams must include expertise in the STEM research area underpinning the proposed solution, but should also include relevant knowledge or experience in complementary areas such as, for example, international development, economics, behavioural science or others, in order to inform the development, translation (incl. adoption) and impact of solutions. As part of an application, two academic researchers (at least one from a relevant STEM discipline) must be identified as part of the core-team.  Funding should be allocated appropriately to reflect the various contributions to the team. 

Phase Funding & Duration

The SFI Future Innovator Prize consists of three phases: Concept, Seed and Prize Award, as summarised below.  

Funding should be allocated to the Team Lead/Team Co-Lead based in an eligible HEI in Ireland and also the Partner Country Team Co-Lead based in the partner country. Information on eligible costs and funding levels is available in the call document.   

Visit the Official Webpage of the  Irish Aid SDG Challenge

Pulitzer Center Local Letters for Global Change Contest 2024 for K-12 students worldwide.

Application Deadline: November 15, 2024 at 11:59pm EST

Applications are now open for the 2024 Pulitzer Center Local Letters for Global Change Contest. Through this contest, students can practice global citizenship, civic action, and persuasive writing, all while exploring the underreported issues that matter to them through Pulitzer Center news stories.

Pulitzer Center welcome entries from all current K-12 students across the globe. Letters may be written in English and/or Spanish. Letters should address a topic within one of the Pulitzer Center’s five focus issues:

• Climate and Environment  (Includes climate change, pollution, extractive industries, and more)
• Global Health  (Includes health inequities, food security, mental health, water and sanitation, and more)
• Human Rights  (Includes racial justice, gender equality, migration and refugees, Indigenous rights, and more)
• Information and Artificial Intelligence  (Includes technology and society, misinformation, and more)
• Peace and Conflict

Pulitzer Center will select one first place winner and up to four finalists for each issue category. First place winners will receive:

• $300 to support global community engagement in your classroom (prize distributed to your class teacher)
• Publication of your letter, photo, and bio on the Pulitzer Center website

Finalists will receive:

• $75 to support global community engagement in your classroom (prize distributed to your class teacher)

All entrants will be invited to participate in a Pulitzer Center town hall event, held virtually in November, to share their solutions with other students from around the world.

Visit the Official Webpage of the Pulitzer Center Local Letters for Global Change Contest

AgroHack Challenge 2024 for young Nigerian Agriculture Entrepreneurs.

Application Deadline: October 7th, 2024

AgroHack Challenge is seeking innovative ideas across the agriculture industry’s value chain. These ideas will be accelerated to create new opportunities for many young Nigerians. The key objective of the AgroHack Challenge is to harness innovative solutions that will enhance rapid growth in the agriculture food sector and increase output and profitability for farmers, create new jobs and increase food security in Nigeria.

• Must be a female led Agric enterprise
• Must be between 18 – 35 age
• Must have a team (minimum of 2 )
• Have an innovative or scalable business idea or model in the agricultural sector (ranging anywhere from farm to fork)
• Transform a community, a nation, a region, or have a global impact
• Have a minimum viable product
• Have a business model with a clear customer segment
• Participants also stand a chance to win up to one million naira
• Accelerator programme
• 5 days Enterprise boot camp
• Intense mentorship from a pool of international mentors
• Business support services
• Access to investors
• Access potential clients
• New market opportunities

Visit the Official Webpage of the AgroHack Challenge

The Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition 2024 for Young People Worldwide.

Application Deadline: August 31st 2024!

Applications are now open for the 2024 Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition. The Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition (CEC) aims to empower entrepreneurs – especially young ones – to work for a more peaceful and sustainable world. Participants are invited to submit their ideas and projects with social impact and to make a concrete commitment to one or more of the  17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)  and to implement them. The 17 goals for sustainable development address the most important social, economic, environmental and health challenges of our time. The submissions are divided into two categories: idea and project. Entrepreneurs from 13 years old are invited to submit their idea or project to participate in the CEC.

The competition takes place in three phases. In the first phase, entrepreneurs submit their idea/project with a short pitch.  If their idea/project meets the competition criteria , they are invited to complete the courses and work on their Entrepreneurial Design. For this purpose, we have developed a special Entrepreneurial Design Canvas (EDC). After completing the courses, participants can submit their completed EDC for phase 2. In this phase all ideas and projects will be published and the participants can vote and collect votes. The 10 submissions with the most votes will move on to the third phase, where an expert jury will select the winners. The winners will be announced at the CEC award ceremony, which takes place in an online ceremony.

• Entrepreneurs from 13 years old are invited to submit their idea or project to participate in the CEC.
• You are welcome to register as a team. The requirement is that each team member has their own campus account. One team member can create the idea/project in the user area and add the other team members to the idea/project. In this way, the same idea/project will appear in the profiles of all team members.
• There is not a limit to the number of a team members.
• You can submit more than one entry as long as they tackle different issues.
• Ideas and projects must be in English. Other languages cannot be considered.
• There are no cash prizes, scholarships or other financial resources in the CEC. You gain knowledge, contacts, a business plan in the form of the Entrepreneurial Design (as long as you complete it conscientiously) and an official certificate from Stiftung Entrepreneurship (Foundation Entrepreneurship) on the completion of the Entrepreneurship courses and the placement in the Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition.

Timeline July 31, 2024

Last day for submissions. Last day to complete both the Brains versus Capital & Sustainable Entrepreneurship courses and the Entrepreneurial Design Canvas (EDC).

Please keep in mind that we may not have enough time to review your pitch and you may lack time to meet the CEC requirements.

August 01, 2024 

Start of Voting Phase.

All ideas/projects that have completed both courses and fully completed the EDC will automatically move into the Voting Phase and will be posted on our public website.

August 31, 2024

End of Voting Phase.

You still have the whole day to collect votes. At midnight the voting will be closed and it is no longer possible to vote. We will evaluate the collected votes and announce the finalists as soon as possible.

September 2024

Evaluation and announcement.

The 10 submissions with the most votes will go through to the final and in front of our judges. The jury awards points according to criteria such as entrepreneurial vision, feasibility, innovation, leadership, social impact and sustainability and selects the winners. The winners will then be announced on our blog.

Note:  Pictures and videos (maximum 3 minutes long) are good ways to explain an idea/project clearly and can increase the chance of getting votes. Please make sure that you only use images and videos to which you have the copyright.

If you don’t want to submit an idea or project, you can still register in the Entrepreneurship Campus to network, share and give feedback on ideas and projects.

Visit the Official Webpage of the Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition

The Commonwealth Secretariat Think Trade, Think Green: Commonwealth Innovative Youth Essay Award Competition.

Application Deadline:  21 August 2024

The Commonwealth Secretariat is pleased to launch the Think Trade, Think Green: Commonwealth Innovative Youth Essay Award Competition.

This competition, brought to you by the Trade and Youth teams of the Commonwealth Secretariat, invites young researchers and students aged 18-29 to share their insights on a crucial topic:  How can trade and trade policy address an aspect of the climate crisis in your country?

To challenge young people in the Commonwealth to explore the relationship between trade and climate change and propose how trade policy can be part of the solution to the climate crisis.

Essay topic

In what ways do you think trade and trade policy can help to address an aspect of the climate crisis in your country? Identify a specific problem, explain how it is linked to the climate crisis, and clearly explain how trade or trade policy can be used to address it.

• You must be aged between 18-29 years old and a Commonwealth national to participate in this competition.
• First prize:  £1,000
• Second and third prizes:  £500 each

The top three essays will be published as part of the Trade Competitiveness Briefing Series and launched at the  Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting  in Samoa in October.

Submission details

• Essays must be a  maximum of 2,000 words  (including in-text references and footnotes, excluding reference list)
• Full referencing in any style (in-text and reference list)
• Entries should be submitted as a single PDF or Word file, 1.5 spacing, Times New Roman font

Details to include

• Nationality
• Contact information (email, address, telephone)
• CV or short bio

Please email your submission and details to  [email protected]  by 21 August 2024. If you have any questions about the competition, please contact  [email protected] .

• Submission deadline:  21 August 2024
• Winners informed:  2 September 2024

Visit the Official Webpage of the Think Trade, Think Green: Commonwealth Innovative Youth Essay Award Competition

Business Partners Limited/SME Toolkit SA Business Plan Competition 2024 for aspiring young entrepreneurs

Application Deadline: 16 August, 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024 Business Partners Limited/SME Toolkit SA Business Plan Competition.

Get the Know-how to start your own Business! Enter the 2024 Business Competition for aspiring entrepreneurs and stand a chance of winning a cash prize and mentorship Vouchers.

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more,

Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world.

Visit the Official Webpage of the Business Partners Limited/SME Toolkit SA Business Plan Competition

 ECOWAS Cybersecurity Hackathon 2024 for cybersecurity Enthusiasts.

Application Deadline: August 5, 2024

Join the ECOWAS Cybersecurity Hackathon to unleash your skills and test your creativity. Connect with a team of innovative minds to tackle real-world cybersecurity challenges. The ECOWAS Cybersecurity Hackathon, a Capture the Flag (CTF) competition organised by ECOWAS and the host Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). This event offers an excellent opportunity for beginners and seasoned professionals to immerse into the world of cybersecurity, learn new skills, and network with fellow enthusiasts.

The ECOWAS Cybersecurity Hackathon aims to foster a platform for young technology enthusiasts, enhancing the cyber workforce in the region. Member states are encouraged to participate and showcase their brightest minds in this competition.

August 6 – August 31, 2024

Online CTF competition

Participants:

Open to teams from all ECOWAS member states

Engage in a series of cybersecurity challenges to identify the top team from each member state

October 14 – October 16, 2024

In-person CTF competition

Abuja, Nigeria

The leading teams from each ECOWAS member state

Identify the top regional cybersecurity team through a competitive in-person CTF event, emphasizing cross-border collaboration and advanced cybersecurity skills.

All talented individuals and teams are invited to join this exhilarating competition. Demonstrate your expertise, collaborate with peers, and push the boundaries of cybersecurity. Be part of the talent pool driving the security of cyberspace for your country and West Africa as a whole.

Visit the Official Webpage of the ECOWAS Cybersecurity Hackathon

The AgriTech4Kenya Innovation Challenge 2024 for agri-tech innovators.

Application Deadline: 28 August 2024 at 23:59 (GMT+3)

Applications are now open for the 2024 AgriTech4Kenya Innovation Challenge . A challenge designed to catalyze the Kenyan agri-food systems transformation by supporting early-stage innovators in the development, deployment, adoption, and scaling of high-impact science-based agri-tech solutions for smallholder farmers and agricultural value chain players.

The AgriTech4Kenya Innovation Challenge aims to address these issues by fostering science-based agri-tech innovations that are localized within the national context and driven by market demand. By bridging the gap between research and market adoption, the initiative supports sustainability, resilience, and efficiency in Kenya’s agriculture. 

Accelerate your impact by joining us in shaping the future of agriculture to strengthen food security and ignite economic growth across Kenya.  

• The AgriTech4Kenya Innovation Challenge is a program designed specifically for agri-tech innovators with early-stage solutions that are rooted in, or applicable to, Kenya’s agricultural sector.
• The program offers applicants, who must have an existing minimum viable product (MVP) or proof of concept (POC), comprehensive support to build a solid go-to-market strategy through business mentorship, scientific technical validation, market opportunities, access to finance, and on-the-ground experimentation with end-users to pilot solutions.

The AgriTech4Kenya Innovation Challenge is powered by Kenyans, for Kenya, and is designed to meet local market demands and address critical value chain challenges.

Attract top-class innovators to tackle Kenya’s agricultural bottlenecks

Develop a pipeline of deployable, impactful and affordable solutions for farmers and value chain actors

Nurture an enabling environment that attracts investments and de-risks innovative technology development

Empower rural communities, and in particular, women and young people

Propel economic growth by creating employment and fostering a skilled and equipped workforce

Align efforts with the objectives of the Big 4 Agenda and the Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy in alignment with Vision 2030

Develop an in-depth understanding of agriculture in Kenya

Benefit from a fully funded, 4-day immersive bootcamp in Nairobi, Kenya

Connect with a wide and diverse network of partners, agribusinesses and investors

Optimise solutions through direct exposure to CGIAR assets and industry-leading scientists and experts

Reserved for participants  who successfully graduate from the bootcamp

Enroll on a sponsored 4-month acceleration program, combining entrepreneurial training and technical assistance.

Test and validate your solution on the ground with end-users for up to four months

Gain strategic exposure to investors and market opportunities

Visit the Official Webpage of the AgriTech4Kenya Innovation Challenge

UNFPA Research Challenge: Climate Change XX: Women’s Health in Focus. 

Application Deadline: 7 July 2024

The countries most at risk of climate change are also those where women and girls face the greatest dangers. “Without urgent action, climate change will set back the clock on gender equality,” says Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director. “UNFPA is pleased to support young female researchers studying the impacts of climate on women’s health. This is important to ensure that both the priorities of women and girls are reflected in climate strategies in the most vulnerable countries and that women are better represented in climate-related decision-making.”

In this context, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with academic partners, is launching the  Research Challenge: Climate Change XX: Women’s Health in Focus . This Challenge will support young and female researchers who are addressing the impact of climate change on women and girls’ health – with special attention to the topic of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and gender equity and inclusion in the design of climate solutions.

Eligibility criteria

• We invite submissions from research teams and organizations led by young researchers under 35 years old, or by a female researcher, with a preference for women-led research.
• Applicants must commit to the bi-weekly support program from August to November and be prepared to deliver the results of the research study or share new findings within a four-month period.
• While the final outcome of the research is not expected to be delivered within the timeline and scope of this initiative, applicants must be prepared to present evidence of how the received grants have advanced the research by November 2024.
• Individuals and teams must be living and working in, and originate from,  UNFPA Programme Countries  and demonstrate proximity to the community served by their solution.
• At a minimum, applicants must already have an established scope of research and key research questions.
• Organizations can be for-profit, nonprofit, or hybrid models.
• Team members must have a working knowledge of English to participate in the support program.
• Only one submission per applying team is permitted. All submissions must be made in English only.

Format of the Challenge

UNFPA, in collaboration with academic partners, launches the Research Challenge to identify up to six winning proposals. Each winning proposal will receive the grant to support the researcher or research team with seed funding of up to $15,000. Winning teams will sign a 4-month contract during which they will:

• Advance their research in identifying and understanding the impact of climate change on the health of women and girls.
• Enhance integration of gender transformative approaches in the design of their study, focusing on equitable inclusion of women in the dataset at all stages of the study.
• Strengthen inclusivity and responsiveness to the unique needs of women and girls.
• Call for Submissions Opens: 18 June 2024 
• Submission Deadline: 7 July 2024
• Evaluation Period: 8 July – 26 July 2024
• Announcement of Winners (Sign Award + disburse funds): August 2024
• Research Support Programme: August – November 2024
• The culmination of the Research Challenge: December 2024

Visit the Official Webpage of the UNFPA Research Challenge

Wiki Loves Earth” Photography Competition 2024 (Nigeria) 

Application Deadline:  31 July 2024.

Applications are now open for the 2024 Wiki Loves Earth” Photography Competition. Wiki Loves Earth  is an international photography competition to promote natural heritage sites around the World through Wikimedia projects (mainly  Wikipedia  and  Wikimedia Commons ). 

Wiki Loves Earth in Nigeria  is an online photography competition to promote the cultural heritage sites of Nigeria. This photography competition is part of the international annual photographic competition  Wiki Loves Earth  (WLE). 

Competition Rules

Every submission should be:  All entries must be your own work; do not manipulate original images and make sure that there is no visible watermarks.  All photos must be uploaded within June 1st to July 31st, 2024, to be eligible  All photos must be licensed under  CC BY-SA license  Participants must have an  active email  account, if the organizers wish to contact  Captions and description are required  Do not forget to add categories to your picture as it will be helpful to everyone looking for your picture  Make sure that you are not uploading duplicate images

How to participate:  Sign in or Create a New Account on Wikimedia Commons  Name your photos well  Use our  Upload Button  at the top  OR   Click here  to upload images  Share your upload success on social media with our hashtags: #WLENG #WLE2024.

Visit the Official Webpage of the Wiki Loves Earth” Photography Competition

Second Open Access Essay Competition 2024 Africa Region: Community over Commercialisation for Diamond Open Access

International Open Access Week is an annual event focused on Open Access issues and an opportunity to reflect on current progress, strengthen current processes, and to plan strategies for the future. UNESCO, along with its partners, takes this opportunity to collaborate with the academic world to explore new changes in the publishing processes and the democratisation of knowledge.

The first edition of the Open Access Essay Competition was held in Latin America in 2020, organised by AmeliCA, UNESCO, Redalyc and CLACSO under the OA Week theme Open With Purpose: Taking action to build structural equity and inclusion , and was aimed at young Latin American researchers and students. 68 manuscripts from undergraduate and graduate students from 13 countries were received.

The submission categories included 1) Students, academics, and Open Access; 2) Open Access to information at universities; 3) Public and private science: reflections on equity and participation; 4) The impact of Open Access during the COVID-19 health emergency; 5) Open Access policies at universities; and 6) Access to information and inclusion for vulnerable groups. The contest awarded 12 young students from Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil and Guatemala. The book with the winning essays is available here .

2024 Second Edition of the Open Access Essay Competition for African Students and Early Career Researchers

This year, UNESCO, NRF, SPARC, Redalyc and AmeliCA are pleased to announce a call for submissions for the Second Edition of the Open Access Essay Competition , the contest seeks to surface the critical perspectives on Diamond Open Access ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_open_access ) from students and early career researchers across Africa. In the framework of International Open Access Week and the Second Global Summit on Diamond Open Access, to be held in Cape Town in December 2024, https://doasummit.uct.ac.za/ ), this year’s topic will focus on Community over Commercialisation for Diamond Open Access under three categories.

Contest Categories

The main theme of the contest is Community over Commercialisation for Diamond Open Access . There are three thematic categories:

• The potential for Diamond Open Access publishing to advance social justice and the public good.
• Decolonisation and decommodification of Open Access publishing/Diamond Open Access as a means to decolonise and de-commodify academic publishing.
• Creative works related to theme A & B.

Author Eligibility

Participation in the contest is open to undergraduate, graduate students and early career researchers (defined as within three years of receiving their terminal degree) enrolled in an African academic institution.

Submission Guidelines

• Manuscripts must be written individually and in the essay style (described in more detail below).
• Authors must participate with a single manuscript and must choose only one theme to submit.
• The manuscript must be original and unpublished (rather in whole or in part). If authors use AI in any portion of a manuscript, including text, data, images, graphics, videos, citations or translations, the tool and its use must be described in detail, including prompts used if appropriate, and the full text of the original AI generated content should be attached as supplemental material. Standard grammatical aid tools such as rules-based software that automate, for example, general spelling and grammar, are not considered AI generated content and are not required to be listed. [1]
• An essay is understood to be a short work that conducts an analysis and reflection with a predominance of critical thinking, based on self-reflection, supported by logic, and with solid theoretical based arguments that back up the positions and opinions about the topic. The language used must be clear and accessible to everyone, redacted in a free-style prose.
• The essay should be in one of the following languages: English, French or Portuguese.
• The essay’s maximum length is 6 000 words.
• Suggested format: 12-point Times New Roman font, 1.5 spacing, justified text and numbered pages. The upper and left margins are 3 cm, and lower and right are 2.5 cm. The document format can be Word© (.doc or .docx) or OpenOffice Writer (.odt, .doc, .docx). No PDF is allowed.
• The call will open on 17 September, 2024.
• Deadline for submissions is 18 October, 2024.
• Publication of results will be on 30 October 30, 2024.

Submissions

We encourage authors to review the format and requirements included in this call to prepare the essay submission. The Contest Entry Form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdG_9k1DA-y0uk9IrhA-6Zv1gV9LxR_0xBm3V0pi5MGX8yMEw/viewform should be completed.

Selection Process

All essays will be judged on their originality and structure of argument, conceptual clarity, rigor of defense, quality of writing, and conclusions as outlined in the submission guidelines by a Selection Committee. Submissions undergo a blind peer-review by two referees from the Selection Committee.

A maximum of three authors will be awarded.

*Honorary Mentions may result at the judges’ discretion:

• First Place: 500 USD, official diploma, and publication of the essay.
• Second Place: 300 USD, official diploma, and publication of the essay.
• Third Place: 200 USD, official diploma, and publication of the essay.

Support will be provided for the winners to attend the Second Global Summit on Diamond Open Access in Cape Town. The book with the winner’s essays and top 10 essays will be published in 2025. More information can be obtained on the Summit website at https://doasummit.uct.ac.za/

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Pwani Oil Opens submission for 2nd Annual National Essay Writing Championship

Pwani Oil, in partnership with Kenya Primary School Head Teachers Association (KEPSHA), has today officially announced the opening of its 2nd annual National Essay Writing Championship to take place until 22nd November 2022.

The competition attracted at least 23,000 schools in 2021 and is held in line with Pwani Oils’ mission to refine the lives of communities around them by sharpening creative writing and thinking skills among pupils.

How to Find the Best Essay Writing Service

Speaking while making the announcement at the start of this year’s competition, Pwani Oil Commercial Director Rajul Malde said, “We have received tremendous positive feedback from participants of past competitions hence our desire to roll out the competition once again for more pupils to benefit. Upon its completion, we shall have a mentorship program for the winners as is our tradition”

Working closely with the KEPSHA, Pwani Oil shall run the competition until 22nd November 2022. Thereafter, the judges shall retreat to review the submissions and schools shall retreat for National Exams and the December holiday. It targets grades 6 and 7 who will focus on this year’s theme dubbed; Roses are Red and Violets are blue, Color the world to reflect you.

Giving his remarks, KEPSHA National Chairman Johnson Nzioka said, “Competency-Based Curriculum is about teaching children to be all rounded, especially in their areas of God-given talents, this year’s contest dubbed “Roses are Red, Violets are Blue; colour the world to reflect you” will not only strengthen the value of accumulating knowledge to improve writing skills and creative thinking but also earn participants recognition beyond a classroom grade. I wish all the participants success and may the judges be fair in their marking so as not to demoralize the efforts of the learners”.

This year, Choco Primo, Kartasi, and Umoja Rubber bearing special interests in the Kenyan Child will also join Pwani Oil and KEPSHA among the sponsors of the competition. From Pwani Oil, Sawa bathing Soap is this year’s main sponsor of the competition. The brand boasts of six Sawa soap variants which include Rose, Original, Herbal, Strawberry, Lemon + Honey and the latest entrant Sawa Chocolate.

“Just like last year, we expect even a great number of pupils to participate in this contest. Apart from recognizing the top 5 nationally, we could compile the top 50 essays and share them with the winning schools for purposes of benchmarking”. Said Nzioka. Commenting on the competition, Trufoods – Choco Primo CEO Sagar Malde said “At Trufoods we believe a healthy future for an individual begins from their very early years. Therefore, we support this worthy cause of growing and nurturing a child by participating in the Sawa Essay competition in partnership with Choco Primo Drinking chocolate which provides the child with the right vitamins and minerals for an Active brain, strong bones, strong muscles and a high immune system. We invest in the future and the children are our future”

In the 2021 contest; out of the 47 winners at the county level, 24 were girls and 23 were boys, a clear indication that our learners are competing at equal levels.

Throw back Thursday; the burn that has denied children fun

“We are glad to be part of the enablers of this competition. Kartasi has been a preferred choice for budding students, offering a wide range of exercise books, notebooks, writing instruments and other stationery. Through our products, we look forward to celebrating the innovation and excellence of the participants” said Kartasi Products Limited Managing Director Rajan Malde.

At the end of the competition, winners will be awarded with a gift hamper from Trufoods, Choco Primo and Kartasi and the Top 5 national winners will be awarded a fully paid 3-day trip to the coast as well as a prize-giving ceremony at the Pwani Oil facility.

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2nd Edition of the National Essay Writing Championship kicks off

Pwani Oil, in partnership with Kenya Primary School Head Teachers Association (KEPSHA), has today officially announced the opening of its 2 nd  annual National Essay Writing Championship to take place until 22nd November 2022.

The competition attracted at least 23,000 schools in 2021 and is held in line with Pwani Oils ’ mission to refine the lives of communities around them by sharpening creative writing and thinking skills among pupils.

Speaking while making the announcement at the start of this year’s competition, Pwani Oil Commercial Director Rajul Malde said, “We have received tremendous positive feedback from participants of past competitions hence our desire to roll out the competition once again for more pupils to benefit. Upon its completion, we shall have a mentorship program for the winners as is our tradition”

Working closely with the KEPSHA, Pwani Oil shall run the competition until 22 nd  November 2022. Thereafter, the judges shall retreat to review the submissions and schools shall retreat for National Exams and the December holiday. It targets grades 6 and 7 who will focus on this year’s theme dubbed; Roses are Red and Violets are blue, Color the world to reflect you. 

Giving his remarks, KEPSHA National Chairman Johnson Nzioka said, “Competency-Based Curriculum is about teaching children to be all rounded, especially in their areas of God-given talents, this year’s contest dubbed “Roses are Red, Violets are Blue; colour the world to reflect you” will not only strengthen the value of accumulating knowledge to improve writing skills and creative thinking but also earn participants recognition beyond a classroom grade. I wish all the participants success and may the judges be fair in their marking so as not to demoralize the efforts of the learners”.

This year, Choco Primo, Kartasi, and Umoja Rubber bearing special interests in the Kenyan Child will also join Pwani Oil and KEPSHA among the sponsors of the competition. From Pwani Oil, Sawa bathing Soap is this year’s main sponsor of the competition. The brand boasts of six Sawa soap variants which include Rose, Original, Herbal, Strawberry, Lemon + Honey and the latest entrant Sawa Chocolate.

“Just like last year, we expect even a great number of pupils to participate in this contest. Apart from recognizing the top 5 nationally, we could compile the top 50 essays and share them with the winning schools for purposes of benchmarking”, said Nzioka.

Commenting on the National Essay Writing competition, Trufoods – Choco Primo CEO Sagar Malde said “At Trufoods we believe a healthy future for an individual begins from their very early years. Therefore, we support this worthy cause of growing and nurturing a child by participating in the Sawa Essay competition in partnership with Choco Primo Drinking chocolate which provides the child with the right vitamins and minerals for an Active brain, strong bones, strong muscles and a high immune system. We invest in the future and the children are our future”

In the 2021 contest; out of the 47 winners at the county level, 24 were girls and 23 were boys, a clear indication that our learners are competing at equal levels.

“We are glad to be part of the enablers of this competition. Kartasi has been a preferred choice for budding students, offering a wide range of exercise books, notebooks, writing instruments and other stationery. Through our products, we look forward to celebrating the innovation and excellence of the participants” said Kartasi Products Limited Managing Director Rajan Malde.

At the end of the competition, winners will be awarded with a gift hamper from Trufoods, Choco Primo and Kartasi and the Top 5 national winners will be awarded a fully paid 3-day trip to the coast as well as a prize-giving ceremony at the Pwani Oil facility.

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Machakos High's Austin Angoya tops East Africa essay competition

Austin Angoya of Kenya was the best in the EAC essay competition. His essay stood out for its inventiveness and fresh approach to a regional issue.

By  Anthony Njagi

Nation Media Group

Kenya has once again proved its supremacy in East Africa's most competitive essay writing competition, with Machakos High School's Austin Alego Angoya coming first in the hotly contested regional competition held in Arusha, Tanzania on Friday.

The EAC Essay Writing Competition, an annual event aimed at promoting regional understanding in the East African Community, featured essays from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan.

Announcing the results of the competition, Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, the deputy secretary-general for Infrastructure, Productive and Political Affairs at the EAC, said Angoya's essay stood out for its inventiveness and fresh approach to a regional issue.

Students rewarded for their essays on regional integration

Essay competition to create awareness on EA integration

The 18th Meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers Responsible for Education, Science and Technology Culture and Sports held on June 9, 2023, considered the regional and national winners of the EAC Essay Writing Competition.

“We hereby announce Austin Alego Angoya as the regional winner of the 2022 students’ essay writing competition,” said Malueth.

The essay writing competition results are announced during the Ordinary Summit of the East African Community Heads of State and Government, which is held at the EAC headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.

Angoya joins a list of several other Kenyan students who have won the award in the past.

Second place went to Idrisa Musa Hamadi of Tanzania (Azania Secondary School), while Irakoze Sonia of Rwanda (Gashora Girls Academy of Science and Technology) and Amuron Everlyne of Uganda (Wiggins Secondary School Kumi) came fourth.

They were followed by Irimpihwe Aida from Burundi (Ecole SOS Muyinga) and Lalum Joselyn Oluku from South Sudan (Merryland Academy).

“The winner, plus his English teacher and mentor Gladys Mbithe John, visited the best tourist sites in Tanzania for a week as a bonus to the award,” said Malueth.

The theme of this year's essay was "Discuss how the development of transportation infrastructure can contribute to enhanced regional integration and development of the East African Community".

In his six-page essay, Angoya explored how easier transport infrastructure can take the East African Community to new economic heights, pointing out that better water, road, air and rail links between countries can facilitate trade and bring prosperity to the region.

“Infrastructure is the foundation upon which our development is hinged. Regional integration is the process by which two or more nation states agree to cooperate and work closely together to achieve peace, stability and wealth,” reads part of Angoya’s winning essay.

He noted that transport infrastructure will lead to improved health care in the region. He pointed out that with affordable air transport, members of the regional community could get help quickly from one another.

Angoya wrote that Kenyatta National Hospital in Kenya is the largest referral hospital in East Africa, with others in the region including Mulago Hospital in Uganda, Muhimbili in Tanzania and Juba Teaching and Referral Hospital in South Sudan.

“Access to these facilities is hampered by inadequate transportation infrastructure. Nursing patients in other countries will certainly be a catalyst for integration,” said the student, who completed his high school education last year.

The East African Community was originally formed in 1967 by Kenya, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. However, the Community collapsed in 1977.

The Treaty for the re-establishment of the East African Community was signed in Arusha on November 30, 1999 and came into force in 2000. Rwanda and Burundi acceded to the EAC Treaty in 2007.

South Sudan became a member on September 5, 2016, while the Democratic Republic of Congo joined in April 2022.

On November 24 this year, Somalia officially became the eighth member of the EAC.

The East African Community aims to achieve economic prosperity, competitiveness, security, stability and political unity.

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Essay  COMPETITION

2024 global essay prize, the short list for the 2024 global essay prize was released on wednesday, 31 july..

The John Locke Institute encourages young people to cultivate the characteristics that turn good students into great writers: independent thought, depth of knowledge, clear reasoning, critical analysis and persuasive style. Our Essay Competition invites students to explore a wide range of challenging and interesting questions beyond the confines of the school curriculum.

Entering an essay in our competition can build knowledge, and refine skills of argumentation. It also gives students the chance to have their work assessed by experts. All of our essay prizes are judged by a panel of senior academics drawn from leading universities including Oxford and Princeton, under the leadership of the Chairman of Examiners, former Cambridge philosopher, Dr Jamie Whyte.

The judges will choose their favourite essay from each of seven subject categories - Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology and Law - and then select the winner of the Grand Prize for the best entry in any subject. There is also a separate prize awarded for the best essay in the junior category, for under 15s.

Q1. Do we have any good reasons to trust our moral intuition?

Q2. Do girls have a (moral) right to compete in sporting contests that exclude boys?

Q3. Should I be held responsible for what I believe?

Q1. Is there such a thing as too much democracy?

Q2. Is peace in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip possible?

Q3. When is compliance complicity?

Q1. What is the optimal global population?  

Q2. Accurate news reporting is a public good. Does it follow that news agencies should be funded from taxation?

Q3. Do successful business people benefit others when making their money, when spending it, both, or neither?

Q1. Why was sustained economic growth so rare before the later 18th century and why did this change?

Q2. Has music ever significantly changed the course of history?

Q3. Why do civilisations collapse? Is our civilisation in danger?

Q1. When, if ever, should a company be permitted to refuse to do business with a person because of that person’s public statements?

Q2. In the last five years British police have arrested several thousand people for things they posted on social media. Is the UK becoming a police state?

Q3. Your parents say that 11pm is your bedtime. But they don’t punish you if you don’t go to bed by 11pm. Is 11pm really your bedtime?

Q1. According to a study by researchers at four British universities, for each 15-point increase in IQ, the likelihood of getting married increases by around 35% for a man but decreases by around 58% for a woman. Why?

In the original version of this question we misstated a statistic. This was caused by reproducing an error that appeared in several media summaries of the study. We are grateful to one of our contestants, Xinyi Zhang, who helped us to see (with humility and courtesy) why we should take more care to check our sources. We corrected the text on 4 April. Happily, the correction does not in any way alter the thrust of the question.

Q2. There is an unprecedented epidemic of depression and anxiety among young people. Can we fix this? How?

Q3. What is the difference between a psychiatric illness and a character flaw?

Q1. “I am not religious, but I am spiritual.” What could the speaker mean by “spiritual”?

Q2. Is it reasonable to thank God for protection from some natural harm if He is responsible for causing the harm?

Q3. Does God reward those who believe in him? If so, why?

JUNIOR prize

Q1. Does winning a free and fair election automatically confer a mandate for governing?

Q2. Has the anti-racism movement reduced racism?

Q3. Is there life after death?

Q4. How did it happen that governments came to own and run most high schools, while leaving food production to private enterprise? 

Q5. When will advancing technology make most of us unemployable? What should we do about this?

Q6. Should we trust fourteen-year-olds to make decisions about their own bodies? 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS & FURTHER DETAILS

Please read the following carefully.

Entry to the John Locke Institute Essay Competition 2024 is open to students from any country.

Registration  

Only candidates who registered before the registration deadline of Friday, 31 May 2024 may enter this year's competition.

All entries must be submitted by 11.59 pm BST on  the submission deadline: Sunday, 30 June 2024 .  Candidates must be eighteen years old, or younger, on that date. (Candidates for the Junior Prize must be fourteen years old, or younger, on that date.)

Entry is free.

Each essay must address only one of the questions in your chosen subject category, and must not exceed 2000 words (not counting diagrams, tables of data, endnotes, bibliography or authorship declaration). 

The filename of your pdf must be in this format: FirstName-LastName-Category-QuestionNumber.pdf; so, for instance, Alexander Popham would submit his answer to question 2 in the Psychology category with the following file name:

Alexander-Popham-Psychology-2.pdf

Essays with filenames which are not in this format will be rejected.

The candidate's name should NOT appear within the document itself. 

Candidates should NOT add footnotes. They may, however, add endnotes and/or a Bibliography that is clearly titled as such.

Each candidate will be required to provide the email address of an academic referee who is familiar with the candidate's written academic work. This should be a school teacher, if possible, or another responsible adult who is not a relation of the candidate. The John Locke Institute will email referees to verify that the essays submitted are indeed the original work of the candidates.

Submissions may be made as soon as registration opens in April. We recommend that you submit your essay well in advance of the deadline to avoid any last-minute complications.  To submit your essay, click here .  

Acceptance of your essay depends on your granting us permission to use your data for the purposes of receiving and processing your entry as well as communicating with you about the Awards Ceremony Dinner, the academic conference, and other events and programmes of the John Locke Institute and its associated entities.  

Late entries

If for any reason you miss the 30 June deadline you will have an opportunity to make a late entry, under two conditions:

a) A late entry fee of 20.00 USD must be paid by credit card within twenty-four hours of the original deadline; and

b) Your essay must be submitted  before 11.59 pm BST on Wednesday, 10 July 2024.

To pay for late entry, a registrant need only log into his or her account, select the relevant option and provide the requested payment information.

Our grading system is proprietary. Essayists may be asked to discuss their entry with a member of the John Locke Institute’s faculty. We use various means to identify plagiarism, contract cheating, the use of AI and other forms of fraud . Our determinations in all such matters are final.

Essays will be judged on knowledge and understanding of the relevant material, the competent use of evidence, quality of argumentation, originality, structure, writing style and persuasive force. The very best essays are likely to be those which would be capable of changing somebody's mind. Essays which ignore or fail to address the strongest objections and counter-arguments are unlikely to be successful .

Candidates are advised to answer the question as precisely and directly as possible.

The writers of the best essays will receive a commendation and be shortlisted for a prize. Writers of shortlisted essays will be notified by 11.59 pm BST on Wednesday, 31 July. They will also be invited to London for an invitation-only academic conference and awards dinner in September, where the prize-winners will be announced. Unlike the competition itself, the academic conference and awards dinner are not free. Please be aware that n obody is required to attend either the academic conference or the prize ceremony. You can win a prize without travelling to London.

All short-listed candidates, including prize-winners, will be able to download eCertificates that acknowledge their achievement. If you win First, Second or Third Prize, and you travel to London for the ceremony, you will receive a signed certificate. 

There is a prize for the best essay in each category. The prize for each winner of a subject category, and the winner of the Junior category, is a scholarship worth US$2000 towards the cost of attending any John Locke Institute programme, and the essays will be published on the Institute's website. Prize-giving ceremonies will take place in London, at which winners and runners-up will be able to meet some of the judges and other faculty members of the John Locke Institute. Family, friends, and teachers are also welcome.

The candidate who submits the best essay overall will be awarded an honorary John Locke Institute Junior Fellowship, which comes with a US$10,000 scholarship to attend one or more of our summer schools and/or visiting scholars programmes. 

The judges' decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

R egistration opens: 1 April, 2024.

Registration deadline: 31 May, 2024. (Registration is required by this date for subsequent submission.)

Submission deadline: 30 June, 2024.

Late entry deadline: 10 July, 2024. (Late entries are subject to a 20.00 USD charge, payable by 1 July.)

Notification of short-listed essayists: 31 July, 2024.

Academic conference: 20 - 22 September, 2024.

Awards dinner: 21 September, 2024.

Any queries regarding the essay competition should be sent to [email protected] . Please be aware that, due to the large volume of correspondence we receive, we cannot guarantee to answer every query. In particular, regrettably, we are unable to respond to questions whose answers can be found on our website.

If you would like to receive helpful tips  from our examiners about what makes for a winning essay or reminders of upcoming key dates for the 2024  essay competition, please provide your email here to be added to our contact list. .

Thanks for subscribing!

The John Locke Institute's Global Essay Prize is acknowledged as the world's most prestigious essay competition. 

We welcome tens of thousands of submissions from ambitious students in more than 150 countries, and our examiners - including distinguished philosophers, political scientists, economists, historians, psychologists, theologians, and legal scholars - read and carefully assess every entry. 

I encourage you to register for this competition, not only for the hope of winning a prize or commendation, and not only for the chance to join the very best contestants at our academic conference and gala ceremony in London, but equally for the opportunity to engage in the serious scholarly enterprise of researching, reflecting on, writing about, and editing an answer to one of the important and provocative questions in this year's Global Essay Prize. 

We believe that the skills you will acquire in the process will make you a better thinker and a more effective advocate for the ideas that matter most to you.

I hope to see you in September!

Best wishes,

Jamie Whyte, Ph.D. (C ANTAB ) 

Chairman of Examiners

Q. I missed the registration deadline. May I still register or submit an essay?

A. No. Only candidates who registered before 31 May will be able to submit an essay. 

Q. Are footnote s, endnotes, a bibliography or references counted towards the word limit?

A. No. Only the body of the essay is counted. 

Q. Are in-text citations counted towards the word limit? ​

A. If you are using an in-text based referencing format, such as APA, your in-text citations are included in the word limit.

Q. Is it necessary to include foo tnotes or endnotes in an essay? ​

A. You  may not  include footnotes, but you may include in-text citations or endnotes. You should give your sources of any factual claims you make, and you should ackn owledge any other authors on whom you rely.​

Q. I am interested in a question that seems ambiguous. How should I interpret it?

A. You may interpret a question as you deem appropriate, clarifying your interpretation if necessary. Having done so, you must answer the question as directly as possible.

Q. How strict are  the age eligibility criteria?

A. Only students whose nineteenth birthday falls after 30 June 2024 will be eligible for a prize or a commendation. In the case of the Junior category, only students whose fifteenth birthday falls after 30 June 2024 will be eligible for a prize or a commendation. 

Q. May I submit more than one essay?

A. Yes, you may submit as many essays as you please in any or all categories.

Q. If I am eligible to compete in the Junior category, may I also (or instead) compete in another category?

A. Yes, you may.

Q. May I team up with someone else to write an essay?  

A. No. Each submitted essay must be entirely the work of a single individual.

Q. May I use AI, such as ChatGPT or the like, in writing my essay?

A. All essays will be checked for the use of AI. If we find that any content is generated by AI, your essay will be disqualified. We will also ask you, upon submission of your essay, whether you used AI for  any  purpose related to the writing of your essay, and if so, you will be required to provide details. In that case, if, in our judgement, you have not provided full and accurate details of your use of AI, your essay will be disqualified. 

Since any use of AI (that does not result in disqualification) can only negatively affect our assessment of your work relative to that of work that is done without using AI, your safest course of action is simply not to use it at all. If, however, you choose to use it for any purpose, we reserve the right to make relevant judgements on a case-by-case basis and we will not enter into any correspondence. 

Q. May I have someone else edit, or otherwise help me with, my essay?

A. You may of course discuss your essay with others, and it is perfectly acceptable for them to offer general advice and point out errors or weaknesses in your writing or content, leaving you to address them.

However, no part of your essay may be written by anyone else. This means that you must edit your own work and that while a proofreader may point out errors, you as the essayist must be the one to correct them. 

Q. Do I have to attend the awards ceremony to win a prize? ​

A. Nobody is required to attend the prize ceremony. You can win a prize without travelling to London. But if we invite you to London it is because your essay was good enough - in the opinion of the First Round judges - to be at least a contender for First, Second or Third Prize. Normally the Second Round judges will agree that the short-listed essays are worth at least a commendation.

Q. Is there an entry fee?

A. No. There is no charge to enter our global essay competition unless you submit your essay after the normal deadline, in which case there is a fee of 20.00 USD .

Q. Can I receive a certificate for my participation in your essay competition if I wasn't shortlisted? 

A. No. Certificates are awarded only for shortlisted essays. Short-listed contestants who attend the award ceremony in London will receive a paper certificate. If you cannot travel to London, you will be able to download your eCertificate.

Q. Can I receive feedba ck on my essay? 

A. We would love to be able to give individual feedback on essays but, unfortunately, we receive too many entries to be able to comment on particular essays.

Q. The deadline for publishing the names of short-listed essayists has passed but I did not receive an email to tell me whether I was short-listed.

A. Log into your account and check "Shortlist Status" for (each of) your essay(s).

Q. Why isn't the awards ceremony in Oxford this year?

A. Last year, many shortlisted finalists who applied to join our invitation-only academic conference missed the opportunity because of capacity constraints at Oxford's largest venues. This year, the conference will be held in central London and the gala awards dinner will take place in an iconic London ballroom. 

TECHNICAL FAQ s

Q. The system will not accept my essay. I have checked the filename and it has the correct format. What should I do?  

A. You have almost certainly added a space before or after one of your names in your profile. Edit it accordingly and try to submit again.

Q. The profile page shows my birth date to be wrong by a day, even after I edit it. What should I do?

A. Ignore it. The date that you typed has been correctly input to our database. ​ ​

Q. How can I be sure that my registration for the essay competition was successful? Will I receive a confirmation email?

A. You will not receive a confirmation email. Rather, you can at any time log in to the account that you created and see that your registration details are present and correct.

TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR SUBMISSION

If you are unable to submit your essay to the John Locke Institute’s global essay competition, your problem is almost certainly one of the following.

If so, please proceed as indicated.

1) PROBLEM: I receive the ‘registrations are now closed’ message when I enter my email and verification code. SOLUTION. You did not register for the essay competition and create your account. If you think you did, you probably only provided us with your email to receive updates from us about the competition or otherwise. You may not enter the competition this year.

2) PROBLEM I do not receive a login code after I enter my email to enter my account. SOLUTION. Enter your email address again, checking that you do so correctly. If this fails, restart your browser using an incognito window; clear your cache, and try again. Wait for a few minutes for the code. If this still fails, restart your machine and try one more time. If this still fails, send an email to [email protected] with “No verification code – [your name]” in the subject line.

SUBMITTING AN ESSAY

3) PROBLEM: The filename of my essay is in the correct format but it is rejected. SOLUTION: Use “Edit Profile” to check that you did not add a space before or after either of your names. If you did, delete it. Whether you did or did not, try again to submit your essay. If submission fails again, email [email protected] with “Filename format – [your name]” in the subject line.

4) PROBLEM: When trying to view my submitted essay, a .txt file is downloaded – not the .pdf file that I submitted. SOLUTION: Delete the essay. Logout of your account; log back in, and resubmit. If resubmission fails, email [email protected] with “File extension problem – [your name]” in the subject line.

5) PROBLEM: When I try to submit, the submission form just reloads without giving me an error message. SOLUTION. Log out of your account. Open a new browser; clear the cache; log back in, and resubmit. If resubmission fails, email [email protected] with “Submission form problem – [your name]” in the subject line.

6) PROBLEM: I receive an “Unexpected Error” when trying to submit. SOLUTION. Logout of your account; log back in, and resubmit. If this resubmission fails, email [email protected] with “Unexpected error – [your name]” in thesubject line. Your email must tell us e xactly where in the submission process you received this error.

7) PROBLEM: I have a problem with submitting and it is not addressed above on this list. SOLUTION: Restart your machine. Clear your browser’s cache. Try to submit again. If this fails, email [email protected] with “Unlisted problem – [your name]” in the subject line. Your email must tell us exactly the nature of your problem with relevant screen caps.

READ THIS BEFORE YOU EMAIL US.

Do not email us before you have tried the specified solutions to your problem.

Do not email us more than once about a single problem. We will respond to your email within 72 hours. Only if you have not heard from us in that time may you contact us again to ask for an update.

If you email us regarding a problem, you must include relevant screen-shots and information on both your operating system and your browser. You must also declare that you have tried the solutions presented above and had a good connection to the internet when you did so.

If you have tried the relevant solution to your problem outlined above, have emailed us, and are still unable to submit before the 30 June deadline on account of any fault of the John Locke Institute or our systems, please do not worry: we will have a way to accept your essay in that case. However, if there is no fault on our side, we will not accept your essay if it is not submitted on time – whatever your reason: we will not make exceptions for IT issues for which we are not responsible.

We reserve the right to disqualify the entries of essayists who do not follow all provided instructions, including those concerning technical matters.

Essay Writing Competitions in Kenya

• March 31, 2018
• by Staff Writer
• Comments Off on Essay Writing Competitions in Kenya
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Writers are always looking for opportunities to showcase their work. It’s quite difficult when we’re talking about all the self-published books available these days. It’s quite easy for your work to get lost in the masses.

That is why essay writing competitions can be such an excellent opportunity to get your work in front of eager eyes, crafting a name for yourself while training your skills to become a better writer.

There are numerous essay writing competitions all over Africa; you merely have to look for them. Today we’ll be talking about the type of essay writing competitions in Kenya to be more specific.

Why Enter Into an Essay Writing Competition?

Entering into an essay writing competition is a smart thing to do. Not only are you exposed to unique writing challenges, but you also have a voice when it comes to real socio-economic problems within your region.

These solutions often check with government officials and other non-profit organisations and could eventually turn into a real solution apply in the real world.

It is something that should get everyone excited. Your idea could get funded by organisations that believe in your proposal, but it’s of the utmost importance to adhere to the rules of the competition to be eligible for a prize.

Even if you’re the idea isn’t picked up by an NGO or a government agency, you can still walk away with the first price which in most cases are cash based. However, individual competitions also include scholarships and much more!

Furthermore, having a winning essay on your curriculum would also help you in advancing your career in your given field of study. It creates credibility and adds value to your name. And as we know, a good name is worth more than gold.

Understanding the Topics

Most essay writing competitions focus on a singular theme. It allows the judges to sift through the hundreds, if not thousands of entries, and see who has the best position on the subject matter.

Depending on the given topic, it would be essential to familiarise yourself with all the resource material surrounding the subject matter. Read books, watch interviews, tutorials, webinars, online articles and much more.

Essentially, saturate yourself within the content to make the information flow from your fingertips.

You’ll also want to set up your primary arguments before actually starting to write. Once you’ve developed this skeleton overview of your essay, find the supporting arguments before typing out a single word. It will speed up the process of writing, help solidify your message and hopefully get you closer to walking away with first prize in the essay writing contest.

Understanding the Format

Another significant thing that you must always look at is the required format. Is it single spaced or double spaced? Is there a limit on the number of words you can use? What citation format is required?

All of these elements might mean the difference between winning and being disqualified from the competition. Thus, before writing anything make sure you’re hitting all the notes within your essay to give yourself a higher chance of walking away with the prize.

Understanding the Requirements

You must also see whether you’re eligible for entry or not. Many of these competitions require specific elements to include. For some, it means you need at least a PhD or a master’s degree in a particular field of study.

There might also be elements such as age, geographical location, spoken language and much more that you should consider. Be sure to verify everything before writing as you don’t want to be wasting your time on a contest you are not eligible for it.

Another thing that many writers might ignore is the deadline. I’ve met so many writers working on their essays that missed the deadline. Be sure to have your paper completed at least a week before the deadline so you can make sure you have everything you need.

Why Essay Contests Make You a Better Writer

When you enter into a contest, you’re pitting against other talented essay writers . It means that you’ll have to bring your A-game every time. It also provides a point of reference about the talents of other writers.

It’s always good to push yourself to the next level. Thus, entering into essay writing competitions, irrespective of where you locate, is a brilliant idea.

Kenya has plenty of opportunities to participate in these kinds of competitions. You should be scouting locally as well as nationally to identify these types of games. By doing a simple Google Search, you’ll be able to track down plenty of essay writing competitions in Kenya, and we would recommend you enter in as many as you possibly can. Some of these writing competitions might be for money, others for scholarships and so on. Irrespective of the prize, the exposure to writing will only benefit you.

Practice makes perfect, and if you place yourself in the competitive environment frequently, you will not only increase your skills, you might even walk away with first prize.

Be sure to search for essay writing competitions in Kenya and see if you’re eligible to participate. Once this has established, enter into as many as you possibly can you can only benefit from these activities.  

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Essay Writing Competition

Terms & conditions.

• The essay competition is administered, promoted and run by Village Market;
• The competition is open to children between the age group of 12-17 residing & schooling in Kenya;
• The competition will run from 1st December 2019 to 31st January 2020. Late entries will not be accepted. Winners will be contacted in February 2020;
• Guardians of the participants will be required to show the SMS or collateral document availed to them by the management as proof of participation; Only the winners will be contacted;
• All essays submitted must be between 1000-1200 words; Essays less than 1000 words will not qualify;
• Entries must be written in English, typed, and submitted using the online form found at www.villagemarket-kenya.com/essay-competition;
• Entries must be submitted online to the instructions specified and will be acknowledged by a message once submitted. There will be no feedback on any entries, either during or after the competition;
• The winning essay may be published in Village Market’s publication i.e The Village Beat Magazine;
• The judges decision is final and not subject to appeal;
• Winner will receive a banker’s cheque worth KES 50,000 addressed in their school’s name. The cheque can be used to cover part or full payment of the tuition fees ;
• The prize is not transferable and no part or parts of the prize may be substituted for other benefits, items or additions;
• Entrants retain all rights to their entries, but taking part in the competition implies accepting that Village Market retains unlimited, non-exclusive rights to reproduction without further compensation. The winning essay submitted for the competition may be published by Village Market on the website and/or in the Village Market publication. There is no guarantee that the 1st prize winners’ essay, will be published by Village Market;
• Village Market and its trustees reserve the right, at their sole and absolute discretion, to use names and information about participants without obtaining further consent from the participant or providing any payment whatsoever to the participant for any commercial or non-commercial endeavours, publicity, advertising, trade or promotion in perpetuity in relation to this campaign;
• Village Market reserves the right to modify the format and content of essays for publication purposes;
• Village Market will not be responsible or liable for any problem, loss or damage of whatsoever nature suffered by any party due to any delay and/or failure in submitting entries to the competition;
• Village Market will not be responsible or liable for any costs, problems, damage or loss of whatsoever nature to the participants resulting from their participation in the competition;
• Village Market reserves the right to disqualify any participant that they determine are submitting material that is deemed to be offensive;
• Entry to the competition is deemed an acceptance of Village Market’s terms and conditions of use as posted on the website;
• Entries must be original work by the entrant;
• Any form of plagiarism will result in automatic disqualification. It is the responsibility of the participant to ensure that their essay does not infringe the copyright of any third party or any other laws and Village Market will not be held liable whatsoever;
• Canvasing is not allowed; anyone found canvasing will be automatically disqualifed
• By entering the competition, the entrants, including the winner, agree to allow the free use of their names, photographs and general locations for publicity and news purposes during this competition;
• The winner’s name may be published on the website or Village Beat Magazine ;
• Submission of an entry will be deemed acceptance of these terms and conditions;
• Village Market reserves the right at any time to cancel, modify or supersede the competition (including altering the prize) if, in their sole discretion, the competition is not capable of being conducted as specified. Village Market reserves in their absolute discretion the right to substitute a prize of equal value in the event that circumstances beyond their control make this unavoidable;
• Employees of Market Masters Ltd and their immediate family members or persons living in the same household are not eligible to participate;
• Village Market shall not be responsible for delivery of the prize or any defects (e.g. delays, strikes, damage or loss) caused during delivery as may have been requested by the participant;
• Village market shall not be held liable if the prize is collected or received by the participant’s kin or care-of custodian and/or steward;
• This is not a game of chance;
• Village Market has the mandate to change the Terms & Conditions without any notice;
• The Village Market reserves all rights;
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Pwani Oil and KEPSHA Opens Submission for Second Annual National Essay Writing Championship

This week, Pwani Oil and the Kenya Primary School Head Teachers Association (KEPSHA) opened the second Annual National Essay Writing Championship that is set to take place until the 22nd of November 2022.

Last year, the essay writing competition had 23,000 schools participating and it is held following Pwani Oil’s mission of refining the lives of communities around them through sharpening creative writing and thinking skills among pupils.

While making the announcement, Pwani Oil Commercial Director Rajul Malde said,” We have received tremendous positive feedback from participants of past competitions hence our desire to roll out the competition once again for more pupils to benefit. Upon its completion, we shall have a mentorship program for the winners as is our tradition.”

The competition will take place until the 22nd of November 2022 with Pwani Oil and KEPSHA working together to ensure the competition will be carried out successfully. After this judges will go on a retreat to review the submitted essays while schools will also be having National Examinations around that time.

The competition is targeting Grades 6 and 7 who will focus on the theme, “Roses are Red and Violets are blue, and Color the world to reflect you.

On his part, the KEPSHA National Chairperson Johnson Nzioka said, “Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) is about teaching children to be all rounded, especially in their areas of God-given talents, this year’s contest dubbed “Roses are Red, Violets are Blue; colour the world to reflect you” will not only strengthen the value of accumulating knowledge to improve writing skills and creative thinking but also earn participants recognition beyond a classroom grade. I wish all the participants success and may the judges be fair in their marking so as not to demoralize the efforts of the learners.”

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Choco Primo, Kartasi and Umoja Rubber have expressed interest in the Kenyan Child and are set to join work with Pwani Oil and KEPSHA among other sponsors of the competition.

The main sponsor of this year’s competition is Sawa Bathing Soap (from Pwani Oil). The Sawa brand has six soap variants including Rose, Original, Herbal, Strawberry, Lemon + Honey and the most recent Sawa Chocolate.

“We also expect a great number of pupils to participate in this contest this year. Apart from recognizing the top 5 at the national level, we will also compile the top 50 essays and share them with the winning schools for purposes of benchmarking,” Nzioka said.

On his part, Choco Primo CEO Sagar Malde said,” At Trufoods, we believe a healthy future for an individual begins from their very early years. Therefore, we support this worthy cause of growing and nurturing a child by participating in the Sawa Essay competition in partnership with Choco Primo Drinking chocolate provides the child with the right vitamins and minerals for an Active brain, strong bones, strong muscles and a high immune system. We invest in the future and the children are our future.”

In last year’s competition, out of the 47 winners at the county level, 24 of them were girls while 23 were boys. This gave an indication that learners competed at equal levels.

“We are glad to be part of the enablers of this competition. Kartasi has been a preferred choice for budding students, offering a wide range of exercise books, notebooks writing instruments and other stationery. Through our products, we look forward to celebrating the innovation and excellence of the participants,” said Kartasi Products Limited Managing Director Rajan Malde.

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Winners of the competition will be awarded a gift hamper from Trufoods, Choco Primo and Kartasi and the Top 5 national winners will be awarded a fully paid 3-day trip to the coast as well as a prize-giving ceremony at the Pwani Oil Facilities.

DOWNLOAD FREE SCHOOL RESOURCES USING THE LINKS BELOW :

Grade 1, 2, and 3 (combined) evaluation assessment tests set, primary school class 5, 6, and 7 exams, primary school class 8 exams, holiday assignments class 4 – 8, high school resources, upper primary school resources.

2024 END TERM 3 SET 3 FORM 1 2 3 4 EXAMS PLUS MARKING SCHEME

2024 END TERM 3 SET 2 FORM 1 2 3 4 EXAMS PLUS MARKING SCHEME

2024 END TERM 3 SET 1 FORM 1 2 3 4 EXAMS PLUS MARKING SCHEME

2024 END TERM 1 SET 2 FORM 1 2 3 4 EXAMS PLUS MARKING SCHEME

2024 END TERM 1 SET 1 FORM 1 2 3 4 EXAMS PLUS MARKING SCHEME

2024 END TERM 2 FORM 1 2 3 4 EXAMS PLUS MARKING SCHEME

GRADE 8 SET 22 EXAMS

GRADE 8 SET 21 ANSWERS

PRE-PRIMARY (PP1-PP2) SCHOOL MATERIALS

Grade 1- 4 materials.

Dominic is a Computer Science Specialist with lots of bias on Education. If he's not writing about Education, then he's coding. If not, then you will find him watching series movies.

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Dear Friends,

Every year around this time in Kenya, eKitabu launches the Digital Essay Competition (DEC). This year marks the 12 th edition since its beginning in 2013 and for the first time, we are introducing two questions in response to feedback we have received from teachers and judges. This experiment aims to improve the quality of writing by refining one of the main tools we have in DEC: the prompts we give. In addition to putting into action the valuable perspectives of wise and committed colleagues, this move also reflects learning with our friends in Rwanda’s Kigali Public Library, whose KPL Writing Competition we have grown and improved since its inception in 2021, making it more inclusive and widening its scale together.. 

The DEC 2024 questions are:

Primary and Junior Secondary school question:

English: How can we take care of our environment at home and in school?

Kiswahili: Ni vipi tunaweza kuyatunza mazingira nyumbani na shuleni?

French: Comment pouvons-nous prendre soin de notre environnement à la maison et à l'école?

German: Wie können wir zu Hause und in der Schule für unsere Umwelt sorgen?

Arabic: كيف يمكننا أن نعتنى  ببيئتنا فى المنزل وفى المدرسة؟ 

Secondary school question:

English : How can students contribute to addressing climate change in their communities and globally?

Kiswahili: Ni vipi wanafunzi wanaweza kuchangia katika kukabili mabadiliko ya tabianchi katika jamii na ulimwenguni?

French: Comment les étudiants peuvent-ils contribuer à la lutte contre le changement climatique dans leurs communautés et dans le à l’échelle mondiale?

German: Wie können Studierende zur Bekämpfung des Klimawandels beitragen in ihren Gemeinden und weltweit?

Arabic: كيف يمكن للطلاب المساهمة في معالجة تغير المناخ في مجتمعاتهم وعلى مستوى العالم ؟

eKitabu invites all Upper Primary and Junior Secondary, and all Senior Secondary school learners from mainstream and special schools, both public and private, to participate in DEC 2024 by submitting their entries online at essay.eKitabu.com . Participants can submit essays in the following categories: English, Kiswahili, Art, Kenyan Sign Language, braille, French, German, and Arabic. The submission window opens in April and runs until the end of July. 

DEC is approved by Kenya’s Ministry of Education (MOE). DEC rewards students and the teachers who support them for their work developing essays and art that embody students’ original ideas and voices. DEC has awarded over Ksh 8,000,000 in prizes since 2013, and many DEC alumni have gone on to achieve success in learning and life. Prizes include scholarship money, computing devices, certificates, gift hampers, and national recognition from Kenya MOE. If you have any questions or feedback about DEC, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] .

Warmest regards,

Fall 2024 Admissions is officially OPEN.  Sign up for the next live information session here .

Discourse, debate, and analysis

Cambridge re:think essay competition 2024.

This year, CCIR saw  over 4,200 submissions  from more than 50 countries. Of these 4,200 essays, our jury panel, consists of scholars across the Atlantic, selected approximately 350 Honourable Mention students, and 33 award winners. 

The mission of the Re:think essay competition has always been to encourage critical thinking and exploration of a wide range of thought-provoking and often controversial topics. The hope is to create a discourse capable of broadening our collective understanding and generating innovative solutions to contemporary challenges. This year’s submissions more than exceeded our expectations in terms of their depth and their critical engagement with the proposed topics. The decision process was, accordingly, difficult. After  four rigorous rounds of blind review  by scholars from Cambridge, Oxford, Stanford, MIT and several Ivy League universities, we have arrived at the following list of award recipients:

Competition Opens: 15th January, 2024

Essay Submission Deadline: 10th May, 2024 Result Announcement: 20th June, 2024 Award Ceremony and Dinner at the University of Cambridge: 30th July, 2024

We welcome talented high school students from diverse educational settings worldwide to contribute their unique perspectives to the competition.

Entry to the competition is free.

About the Competition

The spirit of the Re:think essay competition is to encourage critical thinking and exploration of a wide range of thought-provoking and often controversial topics. The competition covers a diverse array of subjects, from historical and present issues to speculative future scenarios. Participants are invited to engage deeply with these topics, critically analysing their various facets and implications. It promotes intellectual exploration and encourages participants to challenge established norms and beliefs, presenting opportunities to envision alternative futures, consider the consequences of new technologies, and reevaluate longstanding traditions. 

Ultimately, our aim is to create a platform for students and scholars to share their perspectives on pressing issues of the past and future, with the hope of broadening our collective understanding and generating innovative solutions to contemporary challenges. This year’s competition aims to underscore the importance of discourse, debate, and critical analysis in addressing complex societal issues in nine areas, including:

Religion and Politics

Political science and law, linguistics, environment, sociology and philosophy, business and investment, public health and sustainability, biotechonology.

Artificial Intelligence 

Neuroengineering

2024 essay prompts.

This year, the essay prompts are contributed by distinguished professors from Harvard, Brown, UC Berkeley, Cambridge, Oxford, and MIT.

Essay Guidelines and Judging Criteria

Review general guidelines, format guidelines, eligibility, judging criteria.

Awards and Award Ceremony

Award winners will be invited to attend the Award Ceremony and Dinner hosted at the King’s College, University of Cambridge. The Dinner is free of charge for select award recipients.

Registration and Submission

Register a participant account today and submit your essay before the deadline.

Advisory Committee and Judging Panel

The Cambridge Re:think Essay Competition is guided by an esteemed Advisory Committee comprising distinguished academics and experts from elite universities worldwide. These committee members, drawn from prestigious institutions, such as Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford, and MIT, bring diverse expertise in various disciplines.

They play a pivotal role in shaping the competition, contributing their insights to curate the themes and framework. Their collective knowledge and scholarly guidance ensure the competition’s relevance, academic rigour, and intellectual depth, setting the stage for aspiring minds to engage with thought-provoking topics and ideas.

We are honoured to invite the following distinguished professors to contribute to this year’s competition.

The judging panel of the competition comprises leading researchers and professors from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Cambridge, and Oxford, engaging in a strictly double blind review process.

Keynote Speeches by 10 Nobel Laureates

We are beyond excited to announce that multiple Nobel laureates have confirmed to attend and speak at this year’s ceremony on 30th July, 2024 .

They will each be delivering a keynote speech to the attendees. Some of them distinguished speakers will speak virtually, while others will attend and present in person and attend the Reception at Cambridge.

The Official List of Re:Think 2024 Winners​

Gold Recipients

• Ishan Amirthalingam, Anglo Chinese School (Independent), Singapore, Singapore
• Arnav Aphale, King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom
• Anchen Che, Shanghai Pinghe School, Shanghai China
• Chloe Huang, Westminster School, London, United Kingdom
• Rose Kim, MPW Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
• Jingyuan Li, St. Mark’s School, Southborough, United States
• Michael Noh, Korea International School, Pangyo Campus, Seoul, Korea
• Aarav Rastogi, Oberoi International School JVLR Campus, Mumbai, India
• Yuseon Song, Hickory Christian Academy, Hickory, United States
• Aiqi Yan, Basis International School Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China

Silver Recipients

• John Liu, Deerfield Academy, Deerfield, United States
• Sophie Reason, The Cheltenham Ladies College, Birmingham, United Kingdom
• Peida Han, Nanjing Foreign Language School, Nanjing, China
• Thura Linn Htet, Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar School, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
• Steven Wang, Radley College, Headington, United Kingdom
• Rainier Liu, Knox Grammar School, Sydney, Australia
• Anupriya Nayak, Amity International School, Saket, New Delhi, India
• Ming Min Yang, The Beacon School, New York City, United States
• Anna Zhou, Shanghai YK Pao School, Shanghai, China
• Yuyang Cui, The Williston Northampton School, Easthampton,United States

Bronze Recipients

• Giulia Marinari, Churchdown School Academy, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
• Christina Wang, International School of Beijing, Beijing, China
• Chuhao Guo, Shenzhen Middle School, Shenzhen, China
• Isla Clayton, King’s College School Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom
• Hanqiao Li, The Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
• He Hua Yip, Raffles Institution, Singapore, Singapore
• Wang Chon Chan, Macau Puiching Middle School, Macau, Macau, China
• Evan Hou, Rancho Cucamonga High School, Rancho Cucamonga, United States
• Carson Park, Seoul International School, Seongnam-si, Korea
• Sophie Eastham, King George V Sixth Form College, Liverpool, United Kingdom

The Logos Prize for Best Argument

• Ellisha Yao, German Swiss International School Hong Kong, Mong Kok, Hong Kong, China

The Pathos Prize for Best Writing

Isabelle Cox-Garleanu, Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School, Frontenac, United States

The Ethos Prize for Best Research

Garrick Tan, Harrow School, Harrow on the Hill, United Kingdom

Gene therapy is a medical approach that treats or prevents disease by correcting the underlying genetic problem. Is gene therapy better than traditional medicines? What are the pros and cons of using gene therapy as a medicine? Is gene therapy justifiable?

Especially after Covid-19 mRNA vaccines, gene therapy is getting more and more interesting approach to cure. That’s why that could be interesting to think about. I believe that students will enjoy and learn a lot while they are investigating this topic.

The Hall at King’s College, Cambridge

The Hall was designed by William Wilkins in the 1820s and is considered one of the most magnificent halls of its era. The first High Table dinner in the Hall was held in February 1828, and ever since then, the splendid Hall has been where members of the college eat and where formal dinners have been held for centuries.

The Award Ceremony and Dinner will be held in the Hall in the evening of  30th July, 2024.

Stretching out down to the River Cam, the Back Lawn has one of the most iconic backdrop of King’s College Chapel. 

The early evening reception will be hosted on the Back Lawn with the iconic Chapel in the background (weather permitting). 

King’s College Chapel

With construction started in 1446 by Henry VI and took over a century to build, King’s College Chapel is one of the most iconic buildings in the world, and is a splendid example of late Gothic architecture. 

Attendees are also granted complimentary access to the King’s College Chapel before and during the event. 

Confirmed Nobel Laureates

Dr Thomas R. Cech

The nobel prize in chemistry 1989 , for the discovery of catalytic properties of rna.

Thomas Robert Cech is an American chemist who shared the 1989 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Sidney Altman, for their discovery of the catalytic properties of RNA. Cech discovered that RNA could itself cut strands of RNA, suggesting that life might have started as RNA. He found that RNA can not only transmit instructions, but also that it can speed up the necessary reactions.

He also studied telomeres, and his lab discovered an enzyme, TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase), which is part of the process of restoring telomeres after they are shortened during cell division.

As president of Howard Hughes Medical Institute, he promoted science education, and he teaches an undergraduate chemistry course at the University of Colorado

Sir Richard J. Roberts

The nobel prize in medicine 1993 .

F or the discovery of split genes

During 1969–1972, Sir Richard J. Roberts did postdoctoral research at Harvard University before moving to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where he was hired by James Dewey Watson, a co-discoverer of the structure of DNA and a fellow Nobel laureate. In this period he also visited the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology for the first time, working alongside Fred Sanger. In 1977, he published his discovery of RNA splicing. In 1992, he moved to New England Biolabs. The following year, he shared a Nobel Prize with his former colleague at Cold Spring Harbor Phillip Allen Sharp.

His discovery of the alternative splicing of genes, in particular, has had a profound impact on the study and applications of molecular biology. The realisation that individual genes could exist as separate, disconnected segments within longer strands of DNA first arose in his 1977 study of adenovirus, one of the viruses responsible for causing the common cold. Robert’s research in this field resulted in a fundamental shift in our understanding of genetics, and has led to the discovery of split genes in higher organisms, including human beings.

Dr Aaron Ciechanover

The nobel prize in chemistry 2004 .

F or the discovery of ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation

Aaron Ciechanover is one of Israel’s first Nobel Laureates in science, earning his Nobel Prize in 2004 for his work in ubiquitination. He is honored for playing a central role in the history of Israel and in the history of the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.

Dr Ciechanover is currently a Technion Distinguished Research Professor in the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute at the Technion. He is a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the Russian Academy of Sciences and is a foreign associate of the United States National Academy of Sciences. In 2008, he was a visiting Distinguished Chair Professor at NCKU, Taiwan. As part of Shenzhen’s 13th Five-Year Plan funding research in emerging technologies and opening “Nobel laureate research labs”, in 2018 he opened the Ciechanover Institute of Precision and Regenerative Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen campus.

Dr Robert Lefkowitz

The nobel prize in chemistry 2012 .

F or the discovery of G protein-coupled receptors

Robert Joseph Lefkowitz is an American physician (internist and cardiologist) and biochemist. He is best known for his discoveries that reveal the inner workings of an important family G protein-coupled receptors, for which he was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize for Chemistry with Brian Kobilka. He is currently an Investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute as well as a James B. Duke Professor of Medicine and Professor of Biochemistry and Chemistry at Duke University.

Dr Lefkowitz made a remarkable contribution in the mid-1980s when he and his colleagues cloned the gene first for the β-adrenergic receptor, and then rapidly thereafter, for a total of 8 adrenergic receptors (receptors for adrenaline and noradrenaline). This led to the seminal discovery that all GPCRs (which include the β-adrenergic receptor) have a very similar molecular structure. The structure is defined by an amino acid sequence which weaves its way back and forth across the plasma membrane seven times. Today we know that about 1,000 receptors in the human body belong to this same family. The importance of this is that all of these receptors use the same basic mechanisms so that pharmaceutical researchers now understand how to effectively target the largest receptor family in the human body. Today, as many as 30 to 50 percent of all prescription drugs are designed to “fit” like keys into the similarly structured locks of Dr Lefkowitz’ receptors—everything from anti-histamines to ulcer drugs to beta blockers that help relieve hypertension, angina and coronary disease.

Dr Lefkowitz is among the most highly cited researchers in the fields of biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and clinical medicine according to Thomson-ISI.

Dr Joachim Frank

The nobel prize in chemistry 2017 .

F or developing cryo-electron microscopy

Joachim Frank is a German-American biophysicist at Columbia University and a Nobel laureate. He is regarded as the founder of single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), for which he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2017 with Jacques Dubochet and Richard Henderson. He also made significant contributions to structure and function of the ribosome from bacteria and eukaryotes.

In 1975, Dr Frank was offered a position of senior research scientist in the Division of Laboratories and Research (now Wadsworth Center), New York State Department of Health,where he started working on single-particle approaches in electron microscopy. In 1985 he was appointed associate and then (1986) full professor at the newly formed Department of Biomedical Sciences of the University at Albany, State University of New York. In 1987 and 1994, he went on sabbaticals in Europe, one to work with Richard Henderson, Laboratory of Molecular Biology Medical Research Council in Cambridge and the other as a Humboldt Research Award winner with Kenneth C. Holmes, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg. In 1998, Dr Frank was appointed investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). Since 2003 he was also lecturer at Columbia University, and he joined Columbia University in 2008 as professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics and of biological sciences.

Dr Barry C. Barish

The nobel prize in physics 2017 .

For the decisive contributions to the detection of gravitational waves

Dr Barry Clark Barish is an American experimental physicist and Nobel Laureate. He is a Linde Professor of Physics, emeritus at California Institute of Technology and a leading expert on gravitational waves.

In 2017, Barish was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics along with Rainer Weiss and Kip Thorne “for decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves”. He said, “I didn’t know if I would succeed. I was afraid I would fail, but because I tried, I had a breakthrough.”

In 2018, he joined the faculty at University of California, Riverside, becoming the university’s second Nobel Prize winner on the faculty.

In the fall of 2023, he joined Stony Brook University as the inaugural President’s Distinguished Endowed Chair in Physics.

In 2023, Dr Barish was awarded the National Medal of Science by President Biden in a White House ceremony.

Dr Harvey J. Alter

The nobel prize in medicine 2020 .

For the discovery of Hepatitis C virus

Dr Harvey J. Alter is an American medical researcher, virologist, physician and Nobel Prize laureate, who is best known for his work that led to the discovery of the hepatitis C virus. Alter is the former chief of the infectious disease section and the associate director for research of the Department of Transfusion Medicine at the Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. In the mid-1970s, Alter and his research team demonstrated that most post-transfusion hepatitis cases were not due to hepatitis A or hepatitis B viruses. Working independently, Alter and Edward Tabor, a scientist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, proved through transmission studies in chimpanzees that a new form of hepatitis, initially called “non-A, non-B hepatitis” caused the infections, and that the causative agent was probably a virus. This work eventually led to the discovery of the hepatitis C virus in 1988, for which he shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2020 along with Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice.

Dr Alter has received recognition for the research leading to the discovery of the virus that causes hepatitis C. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the highest award conferred to civilians in United States government public health service, and the 2000 Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research.

Dr Ardem Patapoutian

The nobel prize in medicine 2021 .

For discovering how pressure is translated into nerve impulses

Dr Ardem Patapoutian is an Lebanese-American molecular biologist, neuroscientist, and Nobel Prize laureate of Armenian descent. He is known for his work in characterising the PIEZO1, PIEZO2, and TRPM8 receptors that detect pressure, menthol, and temperature. Dr Patapoutian is a neuroscience professor and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California. In 2021, he won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly with David Julius.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I participate in the Re:think essay competition? 

The Re:think Essay competition is meant to serve as fertile ground for honing writing skills, fostering critical thinking, and refining communication abilities. Winning or participating in reputable contests can lead to recognition, awards, scholarships, or even publication opportunities, elevating your academic profile for college applications and future endeavours. Moreover, these competitions facilitate intellectual growth by encouraging exploration of diverse topics, while also providing networking opportunities and exposure to peers, educators, and professionals. Beyond accolades, they instil confidence, prepare for higher education demands, and often allow you to contribute meaningfully to societal conversations or causes, making an impact with your ideas.

Who is eligible to enter the Re:think essay competition?  

As long as you’re currently attending high school, regardless of your location or background, you’re eligible to participate. We welcome students from diverse educational settings worldwide to contribute their unique perspectives to the competition.

Is there any entry fee for the competition? 

There is no entry fee for the competition. Waiving the entry fee for our essay competition demonstrates CCIR’s dedication to equity. CCIR believes everyone should have an equal chance to participate and showcase their talents, regardless of financial circumstances. Removing this barrier ensures a diverse pool of participants and emphasises merit and creativity over economic capacity, fostering a fair and inclusive environment for all contributors.

Subscribe for Competition Updates

If you are interested to receive latest information and updates of this year’s competition, please sign up here.

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Essay Competition: Win a 100% Scholarship With Immerse Education

Participate in the Immerse Education Essay Competition for a chance to win a full or partial scholarship to our university and career preparation programmes. Since 2020, the competition has offered ambitious students the opportunity to win a full or partial scholarship on our award-winning programmes.

• The next competition will be announced shortly
• Free for 13-18 year old students worldwide
• Including 10 full and 75% partial Immerse Education scholarships to any location
• £1000 (residential), £500 (online 1:1), £250 (online group) voucher for every entry

Alumni globally

Participants would recommend Immerse

What Is the Essay Competition?

The Immerse Education Essay Competition provides the opportunity for students aged 13-18 to submit essay responses to a question of their choice relating to a subject of interest. Immerse annually updates its questions to inspire students to delve deeper into their favourite subjects. There are over twenty questions to choose from which can be found in our full Essay Competition Guide. 10 winners will receive a 100% scholarship to study with us at a world-leading university of their choosing. Outstanding runners-up also receive partial scholarships.

Submission timeline

Sept 19, 2024.

Competition opens

Dates announced soon

Competition closes

Results announced

January, July & August 2025

Programme dates

Feb 23, 2024

Sept 12, 2024, oct 17, 2024.

Any student who submits a full-length essay , but doesn’t receive a scholarship, will be eligible for the option of a £1000 award  for our residential programmes, a £500 award for our Online Research Programmes, or a £250   award for our Group Online Research Programme.

And Many Other Benefits...

Enhance your academic profile for university applications. Partial winners receive completion certificates – and those who write outstanding essays also receive comments from our remarkable guest judges.

University interviewers want you to discuss the subject you’re applying for with genuine enthusiasm. They look for depth of understanding and the ability to articulate your thoughts clearly. Writing an essay deepens your knowledge and improves your ability to present complex ideas.

Our essays are assessed against a mark scheme designed by academic experts. Completing an essay allows you to experience academic writing, promoting related skills like research, critical thinking and editing. Immerse provides support every step of the way.

Competition Details

You’re not on your own. To help your essay shine, Immerse Eduction provides guides, tips and support.

Open to 13-18 year old students

Students can submit an essay if they will be 13-18 years old when the programmes for which the scholarships are valid begin.

500-word academic essay

Register interest to access the Essay Competition Guide with all the questions, tips and guidance on plagiarism, AI & referencing. You can also attend one of our regular essay writing webinars to level-up your writing.

Graded by experts and guest judges

Expert judges assess the essays based on their content, quality of research and critical analysis. Elements like word choice and structure, evidence and inference, as well as vocabulary spelling, grammar and punctuation are also assessed. Student age groups are also taken into consideration.

A chance to win a scholarship for any programme you like

If you win a scholarship, you can use it toward one of our renowned online programmes or one of our award-winning residential courses in any of our locations including Oxford Cambridge, London, Sydney and New York to name a few.

Programmes Our Scholarship Can Be Redeemed Against

Participants will learn to explore the world around them with an architect’s eye, analysing their environment and identifying how each building, structure, and feature influenced by Britain’s long history with urban design.

Choose from a range of subjects to study in the historic city of Oxford. Embrace each college’s unique atmosphere and stunning surroundings, enjoy the vibrant cultural offerings, and feel your subject mastery blossom. Whilst the sun’s out, explore the city’s winding river on a punt.

Choose from a number of industries to explore in this densely packed capital. Experience the pulse of sectors like finance, fashion, and media, immersing yourself in key London hubs, from Canary Wharf’s financial centre to the West End’s theatre scene. Learn directly from industry professionals and get a sense of your future career.

Study in the vibrant city of Sydney, where modern skyscrapers meet iconic landmarks like the Sydney Opera House. Dive into one of many  subjects, explore the bustling markets, and relax on the world-renowned beaches whilst supercharging your subject mastery.

In New York, the city that never sleeps, engage with an industry-led programme —embracing iconic industry hotspots, from Wall Street finance to Broadway entertainment. Gain hands-on experience and network with professionals in the Big Apple, all while taking in the unmatched skyline and culture.

Study in the cosmopolitan city of Toronto, offering a rich tapestry of cultures, explore one of our career-led programmes. Experience the buzz of city life, skyscrapers, and historic districts. In your downtime, escape to nearby natural wonders like Niagara Falls whilst you accelerate your subject expertise.

In San Francisco, delve into the world of tech and innovation to explore one of our industry-focused programmes. Work alongside startups in Silicon Valley, or explore the sustainable practices of the city’s green businesses. The city offers a window into cutting-edge industries, all set against a backdrop of scenic natural beauty.

Singapore is a great summer programme destination for its vibrant multicultural atmosphere, cutting-edge educational institutions, and its status as a global hub for innovation and technology. With its blend of academic excellence, cultural richness, and modern amenities.

Tokyo offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity, providing students with a rich cultural experience and endless opportunities for learning and exploration, making it a great summer school destination. A summer programme in Tokyo means diving into the heart of Japanese culture and innovation.

Boston is an ideal summer programme destination due to its rich historical significance, vibrant cultural scene. Home to top-ranked universities, and offering an array of activities ranging from exploring Freedom Trail to enjoying performances at renowned theatres.

This online programme sees students work in a 1-1 or a group session with tutors from renowned institutions like Cambridge, Oxford, and Ivy League schools. Each student undertakes advanced research in a topic of their interest, culminating in a full-length academic research paper.

Our Guest Judges

Our guest judges and markers are chosen for their exceptional subject matter knowledge and the prominence of their organisation in industries aligned with our essay topics. Many of them come from a teaching or academic background with advanced degrees in political science, English, business, physics, medicine, creative writing and more. This diverse expertise ensures that our judging process is both rigorous and insightful. 

The essay competition assessment criteria look at academic writing qualities like research and evidence, word choice and critical analysis, in addition to spelling, grammar & punctuation. Student age groups and are also considered in this assessment.

Business & Economics Judge

Pamela O’Brien

Humanities Judge

Christina Bunce

Medicine Judge

Arnold Longboy

Business Management Judge

Tom Ireland

Biology Judge, Editor of The Biologist

Hear from our previous winners, register interest for these essay-writing resources, how to enter, essay questions, writing tips, referencing guide, submission guidelines, judging criteria, winning essays.

The Immerse Education Essay Competition is open to entries from young people aged 13-18 interested in all subjects, from Architecture to Medicine, Creative Writing to Film Studies. However, students aged 18 should only submit an essay if they will still be 18 when the programmes the scholarships are valid for begin.

Any scholarships or vouchers awarded during the current round of the essay competition will only be valid for 2025 Immerse Education Programmes

Immerse provides a full essay-writing guide which is sent to your email address once you register your interest in the competition. This guide includes a full list of essay questions, our essay specification, top tips for writing an academic essay, referencing guidance, our terms and conditions and guidance on plagiarism! Registering interest also ensures that you’re on track to submitting your essay on time, through a series of helpful reminder prompts. To support further you can register for our  webinars , which offer top tips and guidance with essay writing from our experts. You are also welcome to explore our  creative writing resources .

Funded scholarship to study abroad:  Our essay competition offers students like you the chance to win a full or partial scholarship to one of our Online Programmes or residential programmes in locations such as Oxford, Cambridge, Sydney, London and more.

Ongoing support from Immerse while you write:  Full support from our team as you write your essay, with free guides and top tips to help you along the way. Sign up to receive our full Essay competition Guide and free tips and tricks as you write. You can also follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok to get more useful essay writing tips.

Demonstrate what you know:  The competition is a chance for you to demonstrate your content knowledge by answering advanced university-style questions.

Build your skills and knowledge:  The opportunity to apply and advance your essay writing skills. You will likely learn something new in the process!

Develop your self-discipline:  A chance to strengthen your self-discipline as you commit to a challenging project and complete it from start to finish.

Essays are graded by expert markers and guest judges who assess the essays across the following criteria:

• – Content
• – Research & Critical analysis
• – Word choice & structure
• – Evidence and inference
• – Spelling, Grammar & Punctuation

Scholarship offers depend on the grades that students achieve. The higher the grade a student receives, the higher the likelihood of achieving a 100% or high partial scholarship. 

The essay competition receives thousands of entries each year, and with the vast number of high-standard entries, we acknowledge the efforts of all participants who have dedicated their time to completing an essay. As such, beyond our full and high-partial scholarships we provide further offers to entrants to facilitate access to our transformative programmes.

If you win a scholarship via the Essay Competition 2024/2025 you can use it toward any residential course in any of our locations. Use your scholarship to enrol on one of our renowned online programmes or enriching in-person/residential summer school programmes in cultural melting pots such as Cambridge, Oxford, London, New York, Toronto, Sydney and more.

No, there is no entry fee and you do not need to have already enrolled onto any of our programmes to take part in the essay competition.

The deadline for the Immerse Essay Competition falls in early September and early January each year. The deadline for the next round will be announced soon.

Register to receive free Essay Competition guidance

The Immerse Education Essay Competition provides the opportunity for students aged 13-18 to submit essay responses to a pre-set question relating to their chosen subject. Register interest to receive your guide with the comprehensive list of questions including:

• A list of all topics and questions
• Essay Specifications
• Top Tips for Writing an Academic Essay
• Referencing Guide
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11th Continental Essay Competition for the year 2023/2024

Theme: “ Empowering Consumers through Standardisation to achieve their rights to safe Quality Goods & Services “

University and College Students under the age of 35 years eligible to participate

10th Continental Essay Competition for the year 2022/2023 Theme: “The role of standardisation in promoting the growth of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) for sustainable, inclusive and diversified industrial and economic development in Africa” University and College Students under the age of 35 years eligible to participate

Essay Competition Winners 2022/2023

9th Continental Essay Competition for the year 2021/2022 Theme – “The Role of Standardisation in Promoting African Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Industries to Attain Self-reliance and resilience in Combating COVID-19 and Future Pandemics” University and College Students under the age of 35 years eligible to participate

Essay Competition Winners 2021/2022

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Essay Competition Winners 2019/2020

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National Argumentative Essay Writing Competition for Young Scholars

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Topic: Simultaneous Elections in India: One Nation, One Election

The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) is committed to promoting social science research in the country. The research schemes and initiatives of the ICSSR have played a key role in enlarging the country’s social science research base.

The National Education Policy 2020 asserts that nurturing a culture of outstanding research is fundamental to the development of a robust education system in the country. The policy envisions overhauling the higher education system by bringing in frameworks to “actively seed research in universities and colleges”. The ICSSR, in its consistent efforts to develop and re-energize the higher education system in the country, aims to inspire critical thinking, methodological and composition skills among young scholars and students.

In consideration of that the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) invites entries for the National Argumentative Essay Writing Competition for Young Scholars on “Simultaneous Elections in India: One Nation, One Election” in three categories:

1. Undergraduate Student

2. Postgraduate Student

3. PhD Scholar

The competition serves as a capacity-building measure for the development of the process of doing research among young scholars and future researchers. It institutionalizes research skills and strengthens their aptitude in undertaking high- quality research. It also seeks to promote social science research and its utilization in the country.

Important Dates

Opening date:  24 September 2024

Closing date:  8 October 2024

Evaluation by the 3rd/4th Week of October 2024 Result by the 4th Week of October 2024

Entries must be submitted via the online entry form only.

No entries will be considered if submitted after this date.

Prizes for Each Category

First prize - Rs 15, 000

Second prize - Rs 10, 000

Third prize - Rs 7, 500

The top 50 entries from each of the categories will be compiled in a book format and published by the ICSSR.

Eligibility and Entry Rules

Please read the eligibility and entry rules before making the submission.

1. The participant must be a full-time bona fide student at the affiliating university/ institution on the day of submission. 2. The affiliating institution in which the participant is enrolled must be an Institute of National Importance as defined by the Ministry of Education (MoE) or a UGC Recognized Indian University/Deemed University/Institution/College under (2) F / 12(B). 3. Entries for argumentative essays will be accepted in Hindi or English  with a 1,500- word limit. 4. Submissions will undergo three stages of blind evaluation. 5. Participants must not mention their names on the write-up or in the file. Any revelation of participants’ identity will warrant disqualification. 6. Entries must be submitted in PDF formats. Please use MLA 9 formatting, standard margins, 12-point font, and double spacing. 7. The entry must be an original work of the author and should not have been published in part or full anywhere. In case, any use of AI, ChatGPT, or plagiarised material is found, the entry will be summarily disqualified. 8. Only one entry per participant may be submitted for the National Essay Writing Competition. Co-authored entries will not be allowed. 9. The deadline for submission is 8 October 2024. 10. No queries regarding the prizes will be entertained by the ICSSR secretariat until the final declaration of results, which will be placed on the ICSSR website. 11. The final authority for the interpretation of the guidelines or any such issue is vested with the ICSSR.

Submission of Entry

Online form is available at https://aap.icssr.org/   [Form given under Grant category]

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National Essay Writing Competition 2024

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• We are organising the third National Essay Writing Competition on 4 th October 2024 from   2.30 PM to 4.30 PM (two hours’ duration).
• Mode: Conventional pen and paper mode by way of physical participation by the candidates.
• Medium: Participants may write their essay in either Hindi or English .
• Venue: Selected stations where field offices of IA&AD are located. The designated stations are available in drop down menu in Page 3 of the online registration form at https://cagessaycompetition.co.in/ .
• currently enrolled in a course of study at any institution recognized by any University in India
• not more than 23 years old as on 1 st August 2024.
• First prize:  ₹ 50,000
• Second prize: ₹ 40,000
• Third prize: ₹ 30,000

All eligible students who participate in the competition shall receive participation certificates in digital format.

• Originality of thought and depth of knowledge,
• Clear reasoning and quality of argument,
• Critical analysis,
• Structure and writing style
• Registration: Online registration of participants will open at 0000 Hours on 14 th September 2024 and applications will be allowed till 1000 Hours, 3 rd October 2024 subject to capacity constraints at various locations.
• Declaration of result: Results will be published by 5 th November 2024.
• Prizes distribution: On Audit Diwas i.e. 16 th November 2024 .
• Electronic devices like mobile phone, digital diary, smart-watch etc. will not be allowed during the competition.
• For registration and complete details visit https://cagessaycompetition.co.in/ or scan the following QR code:
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