Deadline: 15 June, 2015
Open to: anyone up to 25 years old (as of June 15, 2015)
Prizes: cash prizes of US $840 and US $420, plus first place winner will be invited to the award ceremony in Tokyo, Japan
Description
The Goi Peace Foundation organizes an essay competition on the theme “Building Peace in Our Hearts and Minds”. The competition is endorsed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, Japanese National Commission for UNESCO, Japan Private High School Federation, Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education, Japan Broadcasting Corporation and Nikkei Inc.
As today’s young people are crucial for the shaping of our future, it is imperative that they are enabled to develop to their full potential. UNESCO’s objective is to help empower young people and ensure that their contributions are taken into account. This annual essay contest is organized in an effort to harness the energy, imagination and initiative of the world’s youth in promoting a culture of peace and sustainable development. It also aims to inspire society to learn from the young minds and to think about how each of us can make a difference in the world. Marking the 70th anniversary of UNESCO, the theme of this year’s contest is “Building Peace in Our Hearts and Minds.”
Supported by FELISSIMO CORPORATION UNESCO was created 70 years ago to build peace in the minds of men and women as a way to attain lasting peace in the world. What does it mean to build peace in our hearts and minds? How does it relate to the world around us? To participate in the competition you need to illustrate your ideas with your personal experience.
Eligibility
Essays may be submitted by anyone up to 25 years old (as of June 15, 2015) in one of the following age categories:
- Children (ages up to 14);
- Youth (ages 15 – 25).
Prize
- First Place: Certificate and prize of 100,000 Yen (approx. US $840) plus winner will be invited to the award ceremony in Tokyo, Japan scheduled for December 2015 (travel expenses will be covered by the organizer)
- Second Place: Certificate and prize of 50,000 Yen (approx. US $420);
- Third Place: Certificate and gift;
- Honorable mention: Certificate and gift.
Additional awards may feature Recognition for Effort, Best School Award, School Incentive Award, if applicable. All prize winners will be announced by the end of October 2015 on the Goi Peace Foundation web site (www.goipeace.or.jp). Certificates and gifts will be mailed to the winners in November 2015.
Application
Essays must be 700 words or less in English, French, Spanish or German, or 1600 characters or less in Japanese, excluding essay title. Essays may be typed or printed.
Essays must have a cover page indicating (1) category (Children or Youth) (2) essay title (3) your name (4) address (5) phone number (6) e-mail (7) nationality (8) age as of June 15, 2015 (9) gender (10) school name (if applicable) (11) word count.
Teachers and youth directors may submit a collection of essays from their class or group.
Please enclose a list of participants’ names, ages and the name and contact information of the submitting teacher or director.
* Entries missing any of the above information will not be considered.
* Please note that the organizer is unable to confirm receipt of essays or answer individual inquiries concerning contest results.
Essays can be sent by post or online HERE along with your personal information. Essays must be original and unpublished and submitted by individual author, not co-authored.
For more information please also see the official webpage.
