Applications invited for Youthlead Turning Point Contest for Young Changemakers

About the Organization:

YouthPower uses a positive youth development approach to implement programs within and across sectors. YouthPower seeks to improve the capacity of youth-led and youth-serving institutions and engage young people, their families and communities so that youth can reach their full potential. They at YouthPower believe that young people are at the heart of solutions to the world’s greatest challenges.

Youthlead Turning Point Contest for Young Changemakers:

Participate in the “YouthLead 2020 Turning Point Contest for Young Changemakers” and showcase your work globally! As a young changemaker, this YouthLead contest provides you with a unique platform to share your personal experience and creative voice.

They invite written submissions, in the form of a personal essay or poem, that tell a powerful story about one important turning point you have experienced as a young changemaker. A turning point can be a moment in your life when you felt inspired, motivated, empowered, or enabled by a person, a place, or an event to begin working for change in your community. Community can be defined as a group of people you share common attitudes, interests, and goals with at the local, district, national, or global level, or in another way that makes sense to each author.

Writing Formats:

We invite you to write about one specific and important “turning point” in your life that led you to become a changemaker. A “turning point” can be inspired by a person, an event, or moment however large or small, that is personally important to you, and that motivates you to make a positive impact in your community.

Personal Essay

The goal of the personal essay is to tell your story in your own voice. A great personal essay helps the reader better understand your experience. In other words, why is the “turning point” you choose to write about important for you, and how does it inform, inspire, or motivate you today?  Use the personal essay as an opportunity to describe the turning point and the change you are currently trying to impact through your work.

• Format & Length: Each submission must have a title and cannot be longer than 5,000 characters (including spaces). There is no minimum length.
• Language: Essays can be written in English, Spanish, or French. No other languages will be accepted.

Poem

Poems can take any form you prefer (e.g., Haiku, free verse, ballad, etc.). As above, the goal is to use this format to express your voice and to describe the turning point that is personally important to you - how it informs, inspires, or motivates you today.

• Format & Length: All poems must have a title and the poem cannot be longer than 5,000 characters (including spaces). There is no minimum length.
• Language: Poems can be written in English, Spanish or French. No other languages will be accepted.

Who may enter:

The competition is open to all members of the public who are:

• Citizens of low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) as listed here;
• Aged 18-35 and
• Members of YouthLead with a member profile that is at least 80% complete. Becoming a member of YouthLead is easy and free. All Entrants must be successfully registered on YouthLead. As registration may take several days to process, all YouthLead.org registration requests must be submitted at least 4 business days prior to the end of the Entry Period to ensure timely approval for entering the contest.

Contest Prizes:

Each language category will be judged separately. First and second place prizes will be awarded to the top two winners in each language category (English, Spanish and French). Third through sixth place in each language category will receive honorable mentions. All awardees will be featured on the YouthLead.org platform.

A. Poems:

English Submissions

• 1st Place Winner – a one-time monetary prize of $200 and poem featured on YouthLead.org.
• 2nd Place Winner – a one-time monetary prize $100, and poem featured on YouthLead.org.
• 3rd – 6th Place Honorable Mentions – poem featured on YouthLead.org.

B. Personal Essay:

English Submissions

• 1st Place Winner – a one-time monetary prize of $200 and personal essay featured on YouthLead.org.
• 2nd Place Winner – a one-time monetary prize $100, and personal essay featured on YouthLead.org.
• 3rd – 6th Place Honorable Mentions – personal essay featured on YouthLead.org.

Judging Criteria:

The Selection Committee will evaluate the personal essays and poems based on the following criteria (“Judging Criteria”):

• Voice & Power
• Experience & Engagement
• Inspiration
• Impact

Selection Process:

• Entries that do not meet the submission criteria for the contest and/or written formats will be excluded.
• The YouthLead Turning Point Contest Selection Committee will rank the submissions separately by category - for personal essays and poems - and select the top six (6) contest winners for each category. The Prizes for each winner are outlined under “Contest Prizes” below.
• No more than one prize may be awarded per Contestant.
• Decisions of the Judging Panel are final and are not subject to appeal.
• This is a skills-based contest and chance plays no part in the determination of the winners.

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