essay writing competitions in africa 2021

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

Pentagon Partners National Essay Competition for Nigerian Law Students 2024

Spread the loveAre you a Nigerian undergraduate law student who is keen to learn how law and artificial intelligence (AI) interact? Undergraduate legal students are invited to demonstrate their knowledge and add to the conversation about artificial intelligence, privacy, and data protection through the National Essay Competition. The Pentagon Partners National Essay Competition offers participants … Read more

How to write an effective scholarship Essay 2024 – With Examples

Spread the loveApplying for scholarships would be simple if you didn’t have to write a scholarship application or essay, which makes us reflect carefully on our personal histories and current identities. Despite its potential to be the most difficult part of the program, it is also the most important part. You have the opportunity to … Read more

How to write research papers

Spread the loveWriting research papers is inevitable for university students. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a writer, you love writing or you dislike writing. For you to graduate, you must put together a research paper in the course of your study in school. So, what comes to mind when you think of research papers? Maybe … Read more

3 Proven Steps to Write an Excellent MBA Essay?

Spread the loveAn MBA essay is one of the documents international students who want to apply to a business school will need to provide. Firstly, aspiring students need to familiarize themselves with the necessary documents before they begin the application process so as not to make mistakes. Writing an excellent MBA essay might seem like … Read more

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2023 Now Open

Spread the loveThe Royal Commonwealth Society is pleased to announce the theme for The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2023. Application Deadline: 30th June 2023 Eligible Countries: all Commonwealth countries and territories. About the Award: SENIOR CATEGORY ((born between 1 July 2004 and 30 June 2009) 14-18 years of age)  JUNIOR CATEGORY ((born on or after 1 July 2009) … Read more

Africa Organization for Standardization (ARSO) Continental Essay Competition 2023

Spread the loveRwanda Standards Board (RSB) in collaboration with Africa Organization for Standardization (ARSO) is organizing the 10th Continental Essay Competition 2023 with the effort to ensure that youth are enlightened and their standard culture is improved. Application Deadline: 28th April, 2023 Offered annually? Yes Eligible Countries: African Countries About the Award: 10th Continental Essay Competition for the … Read more

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1. The St. Gallen Symposium Global Essay Competition

St. Gallen’s Symposium is an annual platform for proactive ideation and debate, the 2024 symposium will be held in Switzerland. They are inviting young people to become a members of a unique global community and participate in the symposium with us by writing on this years topic question: Striving for more or thriving with less – What pressing scarcity do you see, and how do you suggest to tackle it?

Deadline: 1st February 2024. | Prize: Over $22,000 in cash + full sponsorship to event

Things to note for participation :

Scarcity generally refers to a situation where human needs exceed available resources . This year’s Global Essay Competition invites young leaders worldwide to focus on a specific contemporary or future challenge related to scarcity and propose an innovative way to address it.

Be creative in thinking about proposed solutions: do we need to strive for more and find ways to boost the availability of the resource in question? Or does it focus on ways to thrive with less and thus rethink our needs and demand?

Be free in choosing which scarce resource you focus on: examples include – but are NOT limited to – human labour, capital, natural resources, or intangibles like time, creativity, or care. Be bold and precise in describing a contemporary or future challenge of scarcity and the specific kind of resources you focus on, and offer a concrete and actionable idea of how we should confront it.

Register to Participate

2. SADC Tertiary Institution Essay Competition 2024 for young South African students

SADC Tertiary Institution Essay Competition is calling for submissions of essay entries from active tertiary institution-going learners, on the topic “ What in your opinion has SADC achieved since its formation; and does it reflect the vision of its founders?”

Deadline: 29th February 2024. | Prize: Total of $4500

Guidelines:

Open only to South Africans who are currently students of tertiary institutions in South Africa.

Essays are coordinated by the Ministries of Education in all respective SADC Member States. It is the responsibility of Government officials in SADC Member States to submit the top 3 essays to SADC Secretariat for adjudication at regional level.

The Secretariat will not accept entries from individuals and as such those entries will be disregarded and disqualified.

The essay should be 4 000 words . The deadline for submission of entries to Ministries of Education in respective SADC Member States is 29th February 2024.

For more information, please download the competition brochure and further guidelines here.

3. Call for Submissions: Black Feminist Collective

The Black Feminist Collective is an intergenerational group of Black feminists and womanists who stand for Black liberation in its entirety. They are seeking essays, articles, interviews, artworks etc, from Black feminists and womanists, for their Spring 2024 publication.

Deadline: 26th February 2024 | Prize: Professional Consulting and Publication

Notes to guide submission:

Please provide your email address in order for us to work with you to edit your work before it’s published.

If the work you’re submitting has been published before, please copy + paste a link to it was originally published, and we’ll cite it.

Describe your submission(s).

If your work contains graphic and explicit content, and please provide a content warning.

Pick at least one of the following sections in which you want your works to be published: Resource lists , Art , Politics , Movements , Culture , Interviews and Conversations , Reflections and Personal Narratives .

All writings must be at least 100 words.

Resource lists must be accompanied by a brief overview.

Both video essays and audio essays must be accompanied by a transcript, or be transcribed before it’s published. If you’re submitting video essays to the submissions form, please only upload the transcript.

Clarify if you want your visual artwork to be published individually,  or  if you want it to be featured on another person’s works for future publications.

If you want your visual pieces to be published individually, it should be accompanied by a title and a description,  or  by an optional 100+ word piece.

If the artwork is you’re submitting is a picture of someone else, you must also have their written consent to be photographed and featured in order for it to be published— please confirm this with us!

Upload at least one picture per submission.

Please give credit to the creator(s) of the image you are uploading.

If you’re submitting your writings, and you don’t want to upload an image, you can pick one of your favorite quotes to appear at the top of your published work. View this example .

For more information, click here .

Submit to Black Feminist Collective

4. Deep Vellum’s Best Literary Translations Anthology 2025:

The second edition of this exciting annual anthology will showcase literary translators’ work to make possible literary encounters from around the world for the English-language reader. This anthology will help redefine the canon of world literature and challenge the perception that only Anglophone literature matters in the cultural conversation.

Deadline: 5th January 2024 | Prize: $150 + copy of anthology

You can submit works of poetry, short fiction, literary essays, and hybrid-genre texts, translated into English from any language(s) and published online or in print in a US or US-affiliated literary journal or magazine during 2023.

Prose submissions are limited to 5,000 words. Drama, graphic, and illustrated works are not eligible. Acceptable file formats are .DOC, .DOCX, or .RTF.

Deep Vellum has a broad definition of “translation” and admire both “traditional” translations (those rendered so seamlessly into English that they seem to have been first written in it) but also more conceptual or experimental approaches to translation, especially where they reveal the often fraught and complex relationships between languages and cultures.

Translators will need to confirm that they have permission from the author or their estate (or that it is in the public domain) to publish the submission, should it be chosen, in this anthology.

Please make your nominations through Submittable and complete the questionnaire (Google Form) that is a required part of your submission. Both are important to completing your application.

Source: Brittle Paper

5. Iskanchi Book Prize 2024 is still open for submissions:

Iskanchi Book Prize aims to recognize exceptional prose and hybrid book manuscripts and offer the winners a chance to be published. This competition is open to both emerging and established African writers living anywhere in the world.

Deadline: 30 January 2024 | Prize: $1500 and book publication

Some things to note:

Submissions should be prose : Fiction and non-fiction manuscripts (novels, novellas, short story collections, essay collections, memoirs, etc.). OR hybrid : Manuscripts that blend multiple genres or mediums (e.g., poetry and visual art, prose and photography, experimental formats, etc.)

Book submissions should be previously unpublished and between 50,000– 120,000 words.

Simultaneous submissions to other publishers or competitions are allowed, but please notify us immediately if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere.

Subject of submission should be "Iskanchi Book Prize"

Please send all submissions to [email protected]

6. The Lolwe Editorial Scheme: Editorial Internship

Lolwe is offering four people a chance to be part of their editorial team as Editorial Interns. If you are someone that is interested in the editing process and wants to understand the submission to publication pipeline of a literary magazine, then this is for you.

Deadline: 22nd of December 2023 | Prize: 6 month internship.

Things to note:

Lolwe will offer training, guidance and mentorship by the editor-in-chief, assistant editors and the guest editors of Lolwe.

Interns will gain an understanding of the magazine publishing backend process. You will be a part of the daily activities of Lolwe and will learn how to read through submissions, edit, proofread and communicate with the writers. You will also gain insight into the admin part of the running a magazine.

Time demands are 3-5hours per week. This role offers no financial compensation but interns will be credited in the issue they work on as an acknowledgment of their efforts.

To apply to the Lolwe Editorial Scheme, kindly send an email to [email protected] with the subject ‘2024 Editorial Scheme’. In the email kindly tell us a bit about yourself and state why you should be considered for the scheme. Please be as clear and concise as possible (less than 300 words). Successful applicants will be notified by Monday, 8th January 2024.

Click here to find out more.

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7. the pennacle short story contest.

The Pennacle is looking for stories that can make them laugh or cry or think about things differently. Send a concise, well-edited story in line with the theme: Nigeria Happened to Me Too . This theme is entirely open to interpretation.

Deadline: 10th December 2023 | Prize: N300,000 total + publication

This contest is open to Nigerians only.

Word limit is 2500 words . Titles are not included in the word count.

Submit only one entry. The piece must be previously unpublished.

Provide a short Bio of yourself (suitable for publication) of 300 words or less.

Submit your piece in PDF. It should be double-spaced with 14 pt font and above.

Please do not write your name or personal details anywhere in your PDF as this competition is judged anonymously.

First prize: N200,000, an interview and publication in Pennacle's coming quarterly Literary Magazine, publication in Pennacle's upcoming annual Anthology, and developmental mentoring. Second prize: N100,000, and the same benefits as First Prize. 10 runners-up : Publication in Pennacle's upcoming annual Anthology, detailed editorial review, and one year promotion of any produced work.

Entry Fee= N3000

8. The Pennacle Prize for Good Literature: Creative Non-Fiction

The Pennacle is now accepting essays on the topic: The Pursuit of Purpose, for their recurring Prize for Good Literature. This topic has been left vague so that you can approach it from any angle and with a style and creativity of your own.

This contest is open to citizens of any African country.

Word limit is 3000 words . Titles are not included in the word count.

Submit your essay.

9 . Afritondo Prize 2024 is accepting short story submissions with the theme “Aliens”

This year, Afritondo wants writers “to respond to the theme of “aliens”: unfamiliar things, unfamiliar people, how they are received and lived with or rejected, how they change families, communities, societies.”

Deadline: 16th December 2023. | Prize: $1000 (total)

Here are a few things to note:

      You may only submit an entry if you are a citizen or national of an African country ; one of your parents is a national of an African country; you identify as Black or African or belong to an African or Black minority population anywhere in the world.

Submissions must be in English. The submission, including the title, must be between 3000 and 5000 words.

 Submissions must reflect the theme. Only one submission per writer is allowed.

Submission is accepted only via email. Entries should be sent to [email protected] . The subject of the email should read: Submission for Afritondo Short Story Prize 2023 . The filename of the entry (i.e., the attached document) must be the title of the short story. In the body of the email tell us, briefly, about yourself, including such information as your legal name, country of residence, age, and contact details.

For more information to guide your submission read these guidelines : https://www.afritondo.com/entry-guidelines-2023

Share this newsletter with an amazing writer.

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

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

• Climate change and conflict
• Environment and warfare
• Learning and teaching IHL

• Entertainment
• Arts and Culture
• Fashion and Beauty
• Relationship and Weddings
• Phones and Gadgets

The African Union through the African Governance Architecture and YouLead Summit with partners, invite you to participate in this most enlightening Continental Essay writing competition under the theme: “Leadership for the Africa We Want”

Are you looking for a Scholarship in 2021? We can help you reach you goal this year! Follow us today! — Scholarship Region (@scholarsregion) January 25, 2021

This is an opportunity for African youth to share thier thoughts, ideas and experiences on the “Leadership for the africa we want”.

And the youths would have their winning entries contribute to the Pan-African young Leaders Training Manual.

Table of Contents

Competition Summary

• Host: African Union 
• Category:  Competitions
• Eligible Countries: African Countries 
• Age: 18-35 Years 
• Reward: Prizes and Certificates 

Deadline: April 19, 2021

• Scholarship Alerts: To receive Scholarship Alerts on WhatsApp, Click HERE

“Leadership for the Africa We Want”

Join any of these WhatsApp Groups to receive Scholarship alerts on WhatsApp

• Scholarship Region 1
• Scholarship Region 2
• Scholarship Region 3

Requirements

• Entries are welcome from all 55 AU Member States
• Young women are strongly advised to apply
• African leaving in Africa or diaspora can apply
• Maximum word limit of 1,000 words
• Essays submitted in PDF to the email [email protected]
• Written in any of the African Union official languages
• Submit a copy of Your National ID or Passport 

Participation is voluntary

• Winners would be awarded a certificate of Recognition,
• Featured on the Pan African Youth Leaders Program Webpage and
• Their idea would be included in the Pan African Youth Training manual 
• And lots of other prizes 

Method of Application

Interested applicants are advised to submit their essay in PDF to the email [email protected]

Check  Intel Region Scholarships for more Opportunities

Have any questions? – Click HERE  to let us know and we will be glad to help.

Receive Alerts on: WhatsApp: Scholarship Region WhatsApp , Twitter: @scholarsregion , Telegram: Scholarship Region , Facebook: Scholarship Region

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Continental Essay Competition

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

Essay Competition Winners 2020/2021

Essay Competition Winners 2019/2020

• Legal Essay Writing Competition / Legal Essay Competition Archive

SALRC Legal Essay Writing Competition

2024 South African Law Reform Commission Legal Essay Competition

BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY IN LAW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SOUTH AFRICA’S LEGAL GIANTS

South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) is engaging young legal minds in generating innovative ideas on issues of law reform. The competition aims to honour a range of South African legal achievers who have dedicated their lives to the advancement of our constitutional democracy.

The competition is currently dedicated to the memory of the late Chief Justice Pius Nkonzo Langa who served South Africa with dignity and distinction.

Drawing on the inspirational legacy of Justice Pius Langa, the South African Law Reform Commission (in partnership with sponsors Juta) invites all law students studying towards an LLB or LLM at a South African university to submit their innovative ideas championing law reform issues into the 2023 South African Law Reform Commission Legal Essay Writing Competition.

Join the ranks of future legal achievers destined to shape our evolving jurisprudence by entering this prestigious law student essay writing competition.

Follow this link to read more about the 2024 South African Law Reform Commission Legal Essay Competition and read the Guide to Legal writing compiled by the SALRC.

Join the ranks of legal scholars destined to play a future role in shaping our country’s evolving jurisprudence by entering this prestigious competition and stand a chance of winning a share of R100 000 worth of prizes!

ESSAY SUBMISSION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 12 APRIL 2024 !

• The Law Reform Essay Coordinator, South African Law Reform Commission
• Private Bag x668, Pretoria 0001
• Email: [email protected]

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

• The South African Law Reform Essay Competition encourages critical legal writing by students while generating new ideas for law reform. These ideas should be aligned with South Africa’s priorities as a developmental state and be aimed at keeping the law abreast of developments in society and in tune with the needs of South Africa’s diverse population and national policy priorities.
• Essays can be on any topic relating to the modernisation, improvement, development or reform of any aspect, area or branch of South African law.
• Entries should be in English and must be 4000 to 6000 words in length.
• The competition will be judged by a panel appointed by the South African Law Reform Commission.

WHO CAN ENTER?

• The competition is divided into two categories and is open to registered LLB and LLM students respectively at a South African university or tertiary institution, in any year of study.
• Abridged versions of completed Masters dissertations will also be accepted.
• PhD students are not eligible to enter.

RULES OF THE COMPETITION

• The sponsor of the prize reserves the right to submit the winning essays for possible publication and to feature them on Juta websites and social media platforms.
• Essays received should be in the house style ordinarily required by the University’s law faculty or the house style of the South African Law Journal.
• Entries must be submitted in English.
• Individually authored essays only. Co-authored essays will not be accepted.
• The decision of the judges is final.
• Plagiarism is an academic offence which may lead the entrants t o be disqualified from the competition and be reported to his or her university for possible disciplinary action.
• All essays must be accompanied by a Turnitin report which does not exceed a 15% similarity index. Entries received without a Turnitin report will not be considered.
• Deadline for the submissions of essays for the current edition of the competition has been extended to 29 February 2024.

ABOUT THE PRIZES

• Winners of the LLB and LLM categories of the 2023 edition of the competition may select one of the following prize options: 1. A cash prize of R20 000 2. A laptop to the retail value of R25 000 3. A Juta credit voucher to the value of R30 000 to purchase Juta print or electronic publications of their choice.
• The Supervisor and Law faculty of the winner of both LLB and LLM competition categories will each receive a R2 500 Juta credit voucher
• Runners-up of the LLB and LLM categories of the 2023 edition of the competition may select one of the following prize options: 1. A cash prize of R10 000 2. A laptop to the retail value of R15 000 3. A Juta credit voucher to the value of R20 000 for the purchase of Juta print or electronic publications of their choice.

PLAGIARISM NOTIFICATION:

By submitting your work, you are confirming that it is your own work and have fully acknowledged all the sources you referenced to. For further information regarding the SALRC’s stance on plagiarism, please read the SALRC Legal Essay Writing Competition Rules. All essays must be accompanied by a Turnitin report which does not exceed a 15% similarity index. Entries received without a Turnitin report will not be considered.

SALRC contacts : [email protected] and [email protected]

Prof. Calestous Juma Essay Competition

Minerals Africa Development Institution  (MADI)  in partnership with the Calestous Juma Legacy Foundation  (CJLF)  is proud to announce the winners of the recent inaugural Prof. Calestous Juma Essay Competition which was concluded early this year. We are proud to announce the following outstanding essays as the winners respectively:

Adaji Ufedo-Ojo Eleojo

Ufedo-Ojo Adaji is a student radiographer with aspirations to change the world through her writing. Adaji is a talented writer who varies her genres to include scripts, articles, fiction and poetry. She has also won the top 20 Ekonke short story competition, the EMEND WED essay competition and the 2021 Humans of Transcorp poetry competition. Adaji is adamant that we have the resources needed to conquer the globe as Africans and she will do her bit to show the world what Africa is capable of.

MADI operates at the international forefront to promote the transformative role of minerals (oil, gas and solid) resources towards the achievement of African inclusive growth and sustainable development as envisioned by the Africa’s Lagos Plan of Action, the Abuja Treaty and the Agenda 2063 as well as the attainment of the Global Agenda 2030 or Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Nwankwo Gideon

Nwankwo Gideon Ikemdinachi is a writer, inspirational speaker and a public health enthusiast. He graduated from the University of Nigeria in 2019 with a B.Sc. (Hons) in Zoology and Environmental Biology.Gideon also writes poems, short stories and conference reports. He was a rapporteur during the 26th Nigerian Economic Summit event. He has coached many successful young writers and public speakers. He is the founder and director of the Excellent Writers Academy (EWA), an online coaching platform geared towards raising young dynamic writers who will champion social transformation through the power of the pen.

Joshua John Inioluwa

Joshua John Inioluwa is a 4 th  year medical student at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He is a multiple award-winning essayist, member of the 2022 UN Millennium Fellowship Class, volunteer and student leader. As a writer, he enjoys exploring the various socio-economic issues affecting Africa in general and Nigeria in particular, and more importantly researching and exploring practical ways to solve these problems. He looks forward to a career in trauma care and emergency medicine while also contributing through research and advocacy to improving health outcomes in Nigeria.

In addition to the top 3 winners, we would like to name two honourable mentions for their excellent submissions.

Honourable mention – Faith Oluwatosin

Honourable mention – Mame Hussein

We received over 50 essays from all over Africa and had so many exceptional ideas brought on by young Africans. Dr. Frank Mugyenyi, the Executive Chairman of MADI remarked that the main goal behind the essay competition was to bring together great young African minds to deliberate on solutions to persisting problems that plague Africa especially in regards to its natural resource sector, which was successfully achieved. 

“We are proud to have partnered with MADI for the inaugural essay competition named for Prof Calestous Juma, who was a champion for innovative thinking among the youth. Congratulations and thanks to all of the participants and winners!” Angela Christiana, Executive Director, Calestous Juma Legacy Foundation

We would like to extend our appreciation to our panel of judges for their dedicated work towards finding the prize-winning essays. This esteemed panel was constituted by:

• Kate Bauer 

Victoria Chengo

• John Ludden
• Frank Mugyenyi

Prof. Calestous Juma

Click Here To Read The Top 20 Essays

Meet the Judges

Kate is the Project Coordinator at the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, where she supports a range of editorial and organizational projects. Her previous work at HKS includes roles with the Science, Technology, and Globalization Project at the Belfer Center and the Innovations in Government Program at the Ash Center. During her time at Harvard, she completed a certificate in Environmental Policy & International Development, and currently serves on the Calestous Juma Legacy Foundation board, with the goal of seeing positive change in the Lake Victoria basin area of Africa.  

Kate has a BA from Loyola University, New Orleans in Communications & English and an MA from the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies.

Victoria Chengo is a Research Fellow in the Climate Resilient Economies (CRE) Programme, and the  Tomorrow’s Cities  Nairobi Risk Hub Manager at the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS). Driven by her passion and background on Earth Sciences, Victoria aspires to create a meaningful impact in Africa’s Sustainable Development through evidence-based research and capacity building engagements in the fields of climate change (climate action and governance), sustainable cities & development – disaster risk reduction, and natural resources management – energy & water development. Besides her current work at ACTS, she has over years gained substantial experience in these fields from previous career development engagements such as serving as an intern at UNEP in the Department of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA), and actively involving herself in climate, environmental policy and governance initiatives as a volunteer in organizations and movements such as African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC) and 350.org.

Robin is an entrepreneur working to build both market and social impact. Previously, Robin was VP of market development at Endurance International Group. He has worked with Ashoka, a global network of social innovators, and with Public Interest Registry, which operates .ORG domains globally. He was on the founding team at Elevate Youth and at Global PACT, supporting young leaders to solve self-identified problems in their communities. Robin has previously served as a panelist at the MIT100K, MIT IDEAS social innovation challenge, and BUILD entrepreneurship competitions. He is a startup coach with MIT Innovation Leadership Bootcamps, and holds an MBA from MIT and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania.

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2024 SADC SECONDARY SCHOOLS ESSAY COMPETITION

• Eligibility:

All secondary/high 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 officially 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 2024 SADC Secondary School Essay competition is; “How can Human and Financial Capital drive Industrial Development in the SADC Region? "

The topic is derived from the theme of the 43rd Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Luanda, Republic of Angola, on 17th August 2023, which is; “Human and Financial Capital: The Key Drivers for Sustainable Industrialisation in the SADC Region”. The theme seeks to address two of the most critical enablers in supporting regional industrialisation, namely adequate human resources in terms of numbers and technical capacity within the context of climate change and 4th Industrial Revolution, and adequate financial resources to ensure more sustainable funding mechanisms .

3. 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.

The deadline for submission of entries to the Department of Basic Education is 19 April 2024. 

ALL entries must be typed and submit in electronic version in Microsoft Word  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. All submissions must contain full names, contact details of the entrant, name of school and province.

4. Marking Guidelines:

The set of questions below are meant to guide entrants when responding to the question above. In answering the question above, secondary school learners should ensure that they address the questions listed below in their essays;

• What is human and financial capital and why is it important for industrial development? (20 points)
• SADC continues to undertake its activities and initiatives, especially those that encourage industrialisation. How does access to financial resources impact the growth of industries in the SADC region? (20 points)
• Pillar III on Social and Human Capital Development in the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030 is essential to industrialisation and regional integration and ensures human-centered, inclusive, and sustainable socio-economic development. Give examples of how the SADC region can invest in human resources to foster industrial growth. (20 points)  
• Social and human capital development is crucial for SADC to fulfil its goals of regional integration, economic growth, and citizen well-being. Discuss the role of human capital in promoting industrial development. (20 points)
• Discuss any ideas or approaches to enhance the region's industrial development without over reliance on International Cooperation Partners (ICPs) and donors contributions. (20 points).

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THE WRITERS COLLEGE Short Story Competition

Proudly supporting emerging writers, the annual writers college short story competition is held to acknowledge excellence in creative writing in the short story form. the competition is open to any writer who is unpublished, or has been published fewer than four times. scroll down to see the prizes, theme, judges, rules and entry requirements., theme for 2024, it didn't have to be this way, it didn't have to be this way, the longlist.

Congratulations to the top 20 entrants in the 2023 Writers College Short Story Competition—a truly enormous achievement!

This year marks a significant milestone as we have united the NZ Writers College and SA Writers College short story competitions into a global contest. From all around the world, we received over 800 entries—an exhilarating showcase of diverse cultures and talent. To each writer who participated, a big well done for your remarkable contribution.

Mark your calendars for 18 August, when we unveil the winners. Plus, we reveal the names of the top 60 writers who secured places in the prestigious Highest Honours, Honours, Honourable Mention, and ‘More Stories We Loved’ categories.

In no particular order, here are our top 20 stories:

‘Black Ginger’ – by Clementine Matsobane ‘Return to Court’ – by Taki Scordis ‘End of’– by Rosalind Adler ‘Disneyland’ – by Sierra Martin ‘The People of Colour’ – by Ross Fleming ‘Red and Sticky Blackberries’ – by Fatemeh Ebrahimi ‘The Faint’ – by Ella Boyle ‘Rules of Engagement’ – by Ihsan Sim ‘The Words Effect’ – by Emmanuelle Duong ‘Screw Your Courage’ – by Oliver Forrest ‘The Time Love was Good to Me, or: How I Came to Grow Apples’ – by Travis Inglis ‘Last Words’ – by Sarah Moon ‘Travelling Man’ – by Mary Francis ‘Plain Signs’ – by Taryn Hochstrasser ‘Long Pig’ – by Brady Heslop ‘Draw, Dorky Shaa’ – by Abbey Bensemann ‘Butter Wouldn’t Melt’ – by Haley Byrnes ‘Mrs Tapuna at Number Forty-Three’ – by Claire Hemming ‘Thin Places’ – by Joseph Janiszewski ‘What Goes Unsaid’ – by Sydney Brandolino

THE WINNERS

Hearty congratulations to the 800+ participants who took part in our inaugural global short story competition. This event marked a significant milestone: for the first time, we united the forces of the SA Writers College and NZ Writers College competitions, inviting voices not only from South Africa and New Zealand but reaching out to beginner creative writers worldwide.

The result was a captivating cultural tapestry, proving that our backgrounds may vary, but the essence of a well-told tale resonates universally.

It is with great pride that we introduce our top-placed writers for 2023. These winners skilfully navigate the complexities of human relationships; their narratives serve as mirrors to our human experiences. Their ability to blend vivid imagery, compelling characters, and thought-provoking narrative arcs has made them triumph in this writing contest.

FIRST PLACE:

‘return to court ’ – by taki scordis, ‘the people of colour’ – by ross fleming, third place:,  ‘the time love was good to me, or: how i came to grow apples’ – by travis inglis, in fourth place is ‘plain signs’, written by taryn hochstrasser, and in fifth place is ‘end of’, written by rosalind adler.

Read the judges’ comments, as well as the top three stories, below the Highest Honours, Honours, Honourable Mention and ‘More Stories We Loved’ results lists.

HIGHEST HONOURS

In this category, the judges were looking for unparalleled creativity, narrative depth and emotional resonance. Entries exhibited masterful storytelling techniques, innovative plot development and character exploration, captivating the readers from start to finish.

In no particular order:  

‘Black Ginger’ – by Clementine Matsobane

‘Disneyland’ – by Sierra Martin

‘Red and Sticky Blackberries’ – by Fatemeh Ebrahimi

‘The Faint’ – by Ella Boyle

‘Rules of Engagement’ – by Ihsan Sim

‘The Words Effect’ – by Emmanuelle Duong

‘Screw Your Courage’ – by Oliver Forrest

‘Last Words’ – by Sarah Moon

‘Long Pig’ – by Brady Heslop

‘Travelling Man’ – by Mary Francis

‘Draw, Dorky Shaa’ – by Abbey Bensemann

‘Butter Wouldn’t Melt’ – by Haley Byrnes

The Song Thrush – by Gerrie van der Zanden

‘Thin Places’ – by Joseph Janiszewski

‘What Goes Unsaid’ – by Sydney Brandolino

These stories displayed well-crafted narratives with strong coherence, engaging sub-themes, and skilful execution of the theme ‘Words Have Consequences’. The stories effectively drew in readers through their clear prose, compelling characters and evident command of literary techniques.

In no particular order:

‘The Price of a Loose Tongue’ – by Lauren Roode

‘Tuesday is Bin Day’ – by Hilary Hughes

‘The Words That Mattered’ – by Wandile Kumako

‘All That is Unsaid’ – by Amalie Rupasinghe

‘Quick and Deadly, or Harmless’ – by Mattea Orr

‘Stills’ – by Ruby Vincent

‘Star-Crossed to Oblivion’ – by Findlay Donnan 

‘Mrs Tapuna at Number Forty-Three’ – by Claire Hemming

‘Monster Upon Dana’ – by Immaculate Halla

‘All She Talks About Is Heroin’ – by Adam Graham

HONOURABLE MENTION

Honourable Mention recognizes stories that exhibited potential, displaying elements of promise in terms of imagination, character dynamics, and thematic exploration.

‘Butterfly Wings and Unkept Promises’ – by Zoe Ramasawmy

‘Battleground’ – by Adele Anderson

‘Sorry Kiri’ – by Leanne Jepson

‘Forever Sleep’ – by Zulaiga Mohamed Hoosain

‘Exhaustion Lit by Fury’ – by Alane Delano Obeso

‘Four Summers Down’ – by Claire de Wet

‘What Does Zack Fox Say?’ – by Clement Spocter

‘Triple Word Score’ – by Nadia Cassim

‘The Silence Within’ – by Lasheena Khan

‘The First Time’ – by J F Dangarembizi

MORE STORIES WE LOVED

In the “More Stories We Loved” category, the stories chosen resonated with the judges for a variety of reasons, either through unique perspectives, unusual settings, or unexpected emotional impact. These stories may require further polishing, but they possess an undeniable charm that has captured the attention and admiration of the panel.

‘The Door with No Handle’ – by Nazia Islam

‘Things He Said’ – by Shey-Lee Scott

‘Creeping Creeping’ – by Rick Neale

‘But Why?’ – by Nicole van Staden

‘Eggshells & Other Breakables’ – by Phoebe Bush

‘A Sign of The Times’ – by Liyema Ngcawe

‘Never Again’ – by Lynne Moses

‘My Blanket Called Nana’ – by Tamzyn Huggard

‘Promises and Lies’ – by Keith Williams

‘Little’s Ditch’ – by T. J. Perkins

‘The Journey of a Book’ – by Adele Dubarry

‘Graffiti’ – by Lucy Goodman

‘Friday’ – by Yvonne Wang

Our next short story competition will open in mid-2024 and closes on 31 March 2025.

The judges’ ratings and comments for the top three stories

A huge thank you to our judges this year: Lorraine Forrest-Turner, Karen Jeynes and Andrew Salomon.

First Place

'Return to Court' by Taki Scordis

• Readability: Does it hold your attention? 13/15
• Originality 12/15
• Flow (Does the reader move smoothly through the story from point to point?) 13/15
• Characterization 11/15
• Imagery and use of language 12/15
• Overall gut response to story 13/15
• TOTAL 74/90

Judges’ comments

• A fabulous tale that races along at a pace I could barely keep up with. I was torn between wanting to slow my reading down to enjoy the slick writing and get to the next paragraph fast enough to satisfy my burning curiosity. To say I was totally hooked from start to finish is a gross understatement. Like all great twists, the ending makes total sense. You go back in your mind and think ‘of course, it was so obvious’. Except it wasn’t. This story is a great example of where excellent use of characterisation and language is not compromised by a brilliant plot. We often read beautifully written stories that have little or no plot. This writer combines both arts perfectly. Lorraine
• An entertaining tale, characterised by well-timed humour. Andrew
• A sharp, well written story, which manages a number of twists and turns, before a satisfying ending. The characters are interesting and unexpected. There are great layers of meaning and metaphor. Karen

The Runner-up

'The People of Colour' by Ross Fleming

• Readability: Does it hold your attention? 9/15
• Originality 13/15
• Flow (Does the reader move smoothly through the story from point to point?) 10/15
• Characterization 14/15
• Imagery and use of language 13/15
• Overall gut response to story 12/15
• TOTAL 71/90
• An exceptional piece of poetic writing that deserves time to savour each word, phrase, sentence and paragraph. Unfamiliar with much of the language, I had to go back and read it several times to appreciate the full beauty and nuances of the writing. This is a story I would love to hear read out loud by a native speaker. I loved the originality of the language and characterisation. Lorraine
• Smart and effective use of onomatopoeia, to lend a poignant side to this story that takes an unflinching look at the grim physical and mental effects of poverty and marginalisation. Andrew
• A fascinating, flowing piece, almost meditative, that plays with sense of space and time. There’s an interesting approach to language and wordplay, and a sense that the writer is playing with their craft. Karen

Third Place

'The Time Love was Good to Me, or: How I came to Grow Apples ' by Travis Inglis

• Readability: Does it hold your attention? 11/15
• Flow (Does the reader move smoothly through the story from point to point?) 12/15
• Overall gut response to story 10/15
• TOTAL 68/90
• This is a beautifully written love story with a simple plot that flows along charmingly. The first person narrative uses dialogue well to portray the love interest’s thoughts without needing to explain them. I particularly like the opening lines. ‘I lied at parties. It was an attempt to be anonymous, or perhaps interesting.’ These lines had me hooked right away. As the story unfolds and the lie about the orchard comes true, there’s a gentleness in the writing that befits the pace the trees and apples grow. The ending is a little ambiguous – but appropriate. Lorraine
• A touching exploration of the push and pull between recriminations and desire when an old flame that was never really extinguished can flare up again. And of how quickly time passes between youth and middle age. Andrew
• An intricately woven story, with excellent use of imagery. A strong central character, and a well-crafted story that offers the reader enough, without trying to resolve everything too neatly. It contains a kind of magic. Karen

Closing date:

30 september 2024, longlist announced:, 31 october 2024, winners announced:, 15 november 2024.

Submissions and enquiries can be sent to Nichola Meyer: 

[email protected]

PRIZES FOR 2024 (Will be converted to Rands)

Second prize, and publication in an anthology of winning stories, first prize, third prize, the top three winners receive editorial comments on their submitted works., the basics of creative writing course, competition rules:.

• We aim to support beginner writers only. We accept stories from writers who have never been published, or who have been published fewer than four times in any genre. This includes fiction and non-fiction, in any publication (for payment or otherwise). Journal articles (sciences of any kind) count as being published. Journalists, copywriters, web writers or content writers must please not enter. People who made a living from writing at any point (e.g. decades earlier) are also not eligible for entry. We make an exception for unpaid articles for community or work newsletters or blogs where the circulation is under 5000 readers.
• We accept stories in any genre (literary/horror/sci-fi/fantasy/spec fic). However, literary fiction tends to fare best with our judges. Please read past winning entries (scroll down this page) to get a sense of the kind of writing that we like.
• All submissions and enquiries can be sent to Nichola Meyer: [email protected]
• The competition is open to anyone, from any country aged 16 and over.
• Entrants must submit a story of maximum word count: 2000 words. Any entries exceeding the word count by 50 words will not be considered.
• The 2024 theme is ‘It didn’t have to be this way’. Writers can interpret and represent the theme in any way they choose. Each story must include the phrase ‘It didn’t have to be this way’ somewhere in the story. Writers must produce their own title.
• Only one story per entrant is allowed.
• We only accept entries written in English.
• The competition closes at midnight on 30 September 2024. The longlist will be published by 31 October 2024, and the winners announced and displayed on our website on 15 November 2024.
• Prizewinners will be notified via email as well as on our website; please ensure you supply a valid email address with your entry.
• Prize money will be paid via electronic transfer or PayPal.
• Stories must not have been previously published. Entrants must own the copyright to the story submitted.
• Writers retain copyright, but give permission for their work to be published on our website and in an anthology.
• The judges’ decision is final; no disputes will be entered into.
• If your entry has not been acknowledged within three working days, please contact us as your email may have got lost in transit.
• The Writers College reserves the right to extend the competition deadline or cancel the competition should the entries not be of publishable quality or up to the required standard.
• Absolutely no generative AI to be used (ChatGPT etc.). If we deem stories were not written by a human they will be excluded, and the author banned from entering all further competitions with us.

ENTRY FORMAT:

• Only e-mail submissions are acceptable. Stories must be copied and pasted into the body of the email, AND sent as a Word document attachment. Mark your entry clearly with the subject line: The 2024 Writers College Short Story Competition.  
• Each story must have a unique title. Do not use the theme as your title.
• Your email must state the title of your story, as well as your name. E.g. ‘Once Upon a Time’ – by John Smith
• Your email must include the declaration: ‘I declare that this is my own work, 100% unassisted by generative AI (such as ChatGPT etc.), and I have been published in a mainstream print or online publication fewer than four times.’
• Winners will be asked to show a valid proof of identity.
• State your word count in your email.
• Do not include your name on any page of your story. All entries will be judged blind.
• Use a font such as Arial or Times New Roman, size 12 or more. Use 1.5 or double spacing between lines. We prefer a clear line between paragraphs rather than indenting.
• Make sure your story has been edited and polished according to tips and guidelines provided on our college site under “Writing Resources”, or on our webzine. Read these:

THE JUDGES:

Fiona Ingram

Fiona Ingram [BA Hons (Natal), MA (Wits)] is a multi-award winning author of adult and children’s fiction. She has written eight historical romances (published by USA publisher Bublish), including  Married at Midnight ,  The Wayward Miss Wainwright  and  Lord Blackwood’s Valentine Ball .   Her interest in myths and legends, ancient history and travel led to her writing the multi-award winning  The Secret of the Sacred Scarab.  This is the first instalment of her children’s adventure series,  Chronicles of the Stone . Fiona has now completed Book Four in the series. Through her novels, she takes youngsters all over the world on amazing adventures. 

She is also an animal rights advocate and writes animal rescue stories.

Alex Smith is the award-winning author of five novels:  Algeria’s Way ,  Drinking from the Dragon’s Well ,  Four Drunk Beauties,   Devilskein & Dearlove  (published by Random House/Umuzi) and  Agency Blue  (published by Tafelberg). 

Her work has received widespread acclaim.  Drinking from the Dragon’s Well  was longlisted for the Sunday Times Alan Paton Award and  Devilskein & Dearlove  was nominated for the 2015 CILIP Carnegie Medal in the UK.  Agency Blue  won a Sanlam Youth Literature Award, while  Four Drunk Beauties  won the Nielsen Booksellers’ Choice Award. 

Lorraine Forrest-Turner

Lorraine Forrest-Turner has been writing professionally for over 30 years. As well as writing PR and marketing content for business, she also writes short stories and stage plays.

Two of her plays ( Seven Stages of an Affair and To Have and to Hold ) are published by Samuel French and three ( Dear Lily , Bank Holiday Mondays and Other Ways to Kill a Marriage and Three’s Company ) are published by Lazy Bee Scripts.

Many of her short stories have been published in fiction and women’s magazines. These include Planting Primroses in Potholes in Yours Fiction, Getting on with Freya in Take a Moment, and First Dance in Royal Marsden Hospital Magazine.

Her stage plays have won numerous awards and have been performed throughout the UK. These include Sparks at the Cockpit Theatre, London, Isosceles at the ABC Theatre in Cambridge, and Spin at the Kenton Theatre in Henley.

Lorraine has recently rewritten her stage play To Have and to Hold as a film script. It is currently in production. Her book of short stories 13:22 and other stories is published on Amazon.

Karen Jeynes

Karen has won numerous awards and nominations for her co-writing of TV series, including two Emmy nominations for Best TV Comedy. Currently, she is the head writer for Both Worlds Productions, overseeing  ZANews: Puppet Nation  (winner of 22 South African Film and Television Awards and two Writer’s Guild of South Africa Awards for Best TV Comedy), as well as  Point of Order  (SAFTA winner for Best Game Show in 2017),  Comedy Central News  and  Parlement Parlement .

Andrew Salomon

Andrew Salomon is an award-winning author. His debut novel  Tokoloshe Song  was shortlisted for the Terry Pratchett First Novel Award.

Additionally, his short fiction has been shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. He has also received the PEN Literary Award for African Fiction and the Short.Sharp.Stories Award.

Andrew is the author of the young adult thrillers  The Chrysalis  and  Wonderbear . His latest novel is the dark fantasy thriller  The Equilibrist . He completed an MA at the Institute for Archaeology at University College London. Some of his most memorable experiences have been at rock painting and engraving sites in subterranean caves and shelters across the world. These often find their way into his fiction.

The Short Story Writing Course

Download our free anthologies.

Click on a cover to download our free anthologies that showcase the winning stories from past competitions in South Africa and New Zealand (+/- 1MB). Since 2023, the competition has opened to international entries.

The Write a Novel Course

Past winners of the sa writers college short story competition.

We would like to acknowledge the past winners of our Short Story Competitions.

First Place: ‘ Return to Court ’ – by Taki Scordis

Runner-up: ‘’ The People of Colour ’ – by Ross Fleming

Third place: ‘ The Time Love Was Good to Me, or: How I Came to Grow Apples ’– by Travis Inglis

First Place: ‘ People Like Us ’ – by Matshediso Radebe

Runner-up: ‘ ‘ Rubicon ’ – by Jengo Ata

Third place: ‘ The Jab ’– by Werner Labuschagne  

First Place: ‘We Ate His Bowels First’ by Gabisile Shabangu

Runner-up: ‘A Crumpled R10 Note and a Bloody Hand’ by Vuyiswa Kubalasa

Third place: ‘Wild Peonies & Pink Flamingoes’ by Kea Isaacs

First Place: ‘The Moot Mulatto’ by Taki Scordis

Runner-up: ‘Misstep’ by Stephen Harrison

Third place: ‘Unfinished Business’ by Jessica Spyker

First Place: ‘Tulbagh By Gaslight’ by S.F. Ratcliffe

Runner-up: ‘Sit Down; You’re Brown’ by Javi Reddy

Third place: ‘Record Cards’ by Merle Grace

First Place: ‘There’s an App for That’ by Simon F. Ratcliffe

Runner-up: ‘Hero’s Brush With Mutiny’ by Amelia Warren

Third place: ‘Mother Knows’ by Hendri Rhodes

First Place: ‘Frankie’ by Heinrich van der Walt

Runner-up: ‘The Teen Factor’ by Janice Gardiner-Atkinson

Third place: ‘King of the Road’ by Carina Maré

First Place: ‘My Mother Takes One Look at Me and Gives Me Away’ by Bruce McKenzie

Runner-up: ‘And the Meek’ by Matthew Child

Third place: ‘The High Road Less Travelled’ by Les Hellmann

First Place: ‘An Anniversary, Shaded’ by Duncan Aird

Runner-up: ‘Rembrandt’ by Ian Sutherland

Third place: ‘The Exchange’ by Natanja Greeff

First Place (Literary Fiction): ‘That Night’ by Melita Vurden

First Place (Popular Fiction): ‘The First Time’ by Mike Forde

Runner-up (Literary Fiction): ‘Death and Sandwiches’ by Gina Kukard

Runner-up (Popular Fiction): ‘On the Way Home’ by Natisha Parsons

First Place: ‘Food for Thought’ by Carla Lever

Runner-up: ‘Wholesale’ by Liam Kruger

Third place: ‘Sleeping Dogs’ by Eleanor Talbot

First Place: ‘Go’ by Aname van Zyl

Runner-up: ‘Tune in Again Next Week’ by Carla Lever 

Third place: ‘A Gambling Man’ by B. L. Calder

First Place: ‘The Tokoloshe’ by Hannah Green

Runner-up: ‘Watching Sunsets we Never See’ by Shelley Blignaut

Joint Third place: ‘Final Disposition’ by Jessica Liebenberg

First Place: ‘Line of Sight’ by Arthur Bacchus

Runner-up: ‘Board and Lodging’ by William Oosthuizen

Third place: ‘The Colours of Choice’ by Ann Kern

First Place: ‘Martin Mandel’s Parabola’ by Ashley Symes

Runner-up: ‘Pieces of Peony-Painted Teacups’ by Shelley Blignaut

Third place: ‘A New Life’ by Grant Griffiths

First Place: ‘Waitin’ For Fuzzy’ by Ross Ian Fleming

Runner-up: ‘Writer’s Block’ by Widaad Munga

Third place: ‘The Yellow Coat’  by Katja Abbott

Writing Articles for Websites and Blogs

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Yale Young African Scholars

Global scholarship competitions, rise global challenge.

Rise is a program that finds promising young people and provides them with opportunities that allow them to work together to serve others over their lifetimes. The program seeks young people ages 15 to 17 and encourages a lifetime of service and learning by providing support that may include need-based scholarships, mentorship, networking, access to career development opportunities, and the potential for additional funding as Rise Global Winners work toward solving humanity’s most pressing problems.

An initiative of Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust, Rise is the anchor program of a $1 billion commitment from Eric and Wendy Schmidt to find and support global talent.

Click here to learn how to apply.

Zayed Sustainability Prize

The Zayed Sustainability Prize is the UAE’s pioneering global award that recognises and rewards small and medium enterprises (SMEs), nonprofit organisations (NPOs), and global high schools with impactful, innovative, and inspiring sustainable solutions.

Click here to learn more.

The School Enterprise Challenge

The School Enterprise Challenge is an international business programme for schools. School businesses can be run as after-school clubs, at lunch, during lessons or any other time that works for the team. Schools are also encouraged to incorporate the School Enterprise Challenge into their curriculum. The School Enterprise Challenge Team supports schools throughout the whole program, from coming up with a Business Idea all the way through to successfully running a school business and completing an Annual Report! Students work towards the following prizes:  a place at our regional conference and up to $5,000 for your school, the Inspirational Teacher Prize of $1,000, and enterprising students can win cameras and laptops.

Click  here  to learn more.

DSTV Eutelsat Award for African Secondary School Students

The awards take the form of a competition open to 14-19 year-old students in 42 countries. Students are invited to write an essay or design a poster depicting how innovative use of satellite technology in the fields of communication, earth observation or navigation can propel Africa into the future. Top entrants at the national level win prizes such as computers or tablets, and go forward to compete in the overall awards for the winning and runner up essay and poster prizes. 

Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize

Recognizes outstanding work by student writers in 11th grade. First prize - $500, Second prize - $250, Third prize - $100. 

  Click here to learn more.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is the world’s oldest schools’ international writing competition, managed by The Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883. Every year, it offers all Commonwealth youth aged 18 and under the opportunity to express their hopes for the future, opinions of the present, and thoughts on the past, through the written word.

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Building a Better US Foreign Policy Student Competition 2024

Deadline: April 30, 2024

Applications are open for the Building a Better US Foreign Policy Student Competition 2024 . This is an annual competition for undergraduate students seeking to improve U.S. foreign policy and deepen U.S. global engagement. The Reimagining US Grand Strategy Program strengthens US foreign policy by testing assumptions, reassessing conventional wisdom, and exploring innovative approaches to international engagement.

As part of its mission, the Strategy Program provides a platform for future national security professionals to express their thoughts. Its Annual Student Competition invites undergraduates to share creative ideas for improving U.S. foreign policy, drawing new and innovative talent into the policy space, and providing avenues for young thinkers to engage with leading foreign policy institutions.

Prompt: Briefly analyze a core assumption guiding U.S. foreign policy that you believe is most in need of scrutiny or identify a new opportunity for the United States to better engage with the world. Explain the importance of this assumption or opportunity and propose at least one concrete policy prescription based on your analysis.

Competition Format

The competition is a short essay contest to encourage students to develop their analytical and writing skills to effectively communicate ideas to policymakers. Students are expected to showcase unconventional ideas and are invited to propose new modes of global engagement for the United States.

Awards include:

• Cash prizes: The first-place winner will receive $1,000, the first runner-up $500, and the second runner-up $250.
• Publication in an online outlet: Following a period of review and editing in collaboration with the writer, the winning essay will be published by Inkstick Media. Additional essays may also be considered for publication, subject to the discretion of the reviewers.
• Invitation to exclusive event: A selection of up to 20 students with exemplary essays will receive an invitation to participate in a virtual whiteboarding event with the Reimagining U.S. Grand Strategy team. Participants will have the opportunity to connect with team members, meet other high-achieving students, and get a peek inside the work being done at a leading international relations think tank.

Eligibility

Only submissions adhering to the following criteria will be considered for the competition:

• Students must be enrolled in a U.S. university or college as an undergraduate student at the time of the submission of their entry. Only applicants with U.S. residency will be eligible for the cash prizes, but all applicants (regardless of residency) will be eligible for publication and invitation to the exclusive virtual event. Only one entry per student is allowed.
• Should the number of submissions exceed the reviewing capacity, the Reimagining US Grand Strategy Program will select completed essays for review on a first-come, first-served basis.
• The Stimson Center has a strict no-plagiarism policy. Essays submitted to the competition will be reviewed accordingly. Students are allowed, however, to repurpose their prior written work for the competition—so long as it has not been published elsewhere.

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be judged upon:

• The quality of the analysis and writing.
• The strength of the essay’s arguments and sources.
• The originality and creativity of policy prescriptions that are also practical and realistic.
• A respect for the word count limit (1,000 words maximum).

Application

Essays should be submitted as either a Word document or PDF– with hyperlinks included to cite outside sources.

Click here to apply

For more information, visit Build a Better US Foreign Policy Student Competition .

Jahmel Brown is a youth leader, advocate, and opportunity connector from Jamaica, which is located in the Caribbean. He believes in the power of young people through shaping them with life-changing opportunities.

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Unicef youth advocates programme 2024-2025, climate tracker caribbean climate justice journalism fellowship 2024, conrad n. hilton humanitarian prize 2025 ($2.5 million in funding).

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Writing Contests 2024 2024

Writing Contests 2024 2024 . Et almost from the time our new “ how to” informational writing contest for teenagers went live in. This march there are more than six dozen free writing contests for short.

2024 writing competitions for middle and high school students. 10 writing contests for july 2024.

Contests May Have Certain Restrictions, So Please Read The Rules And/Or Guidelines Carefully Before Submitting Your.

Here are ten writing contests with april 2024 deadlines that do and do not charge entry fees.

The New Year Opens With Plenty Of Poetry Competitions But Few Essay Contests And Almost No Free.

Here are the best writing contests in 2024:

Be Realistic, But Push Yourself.

Images references :, here are ten writing contests with april 2024 deadlines that do and do not charge entry fees..

€14 (us$15, £12) (€9 subsequent entries) flash critiques available.

There Will Be Five Winners, One From Each Region (Africa,.

The definitive guide a comprehensive and regularly updated list of writing contests in 2024.

Here Are The Best Writing Contests In 2024:

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The Wonder by Michelle Redo Daring to Tell

• Personal Journals

My essay that won #19 in the 2021 Writers Digest Personal Essay Competition! Today's guest host is Melanie Brooks... author of Writing Hard Stories. This month's spotlight bookstore is Twice Told Tales on Maine St. in Brunswick. Quality used books run by the Friends of Curtis Memorial Library. If you're curious about the Bugzooka, heard about in today's episode, here's what it looks like. I receive no proceeds from any Bugzooka sales (But I probably should!) And check out the #Amwriting podcast's Blue Print for a Book Challenge happening this summer!

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