Introduction: The Goi Peace Foundation is pleased to announce the start of the 2024 International Youth Essay Contest. This prestigious annual event invites young people from all over the world to share their ideas and experiences on the theme "My Experience of Overcoming Conflict". The competition, designed to promote a culture of peace and sustainable development, offers a platform for young minds to reflect on their encounters with conflict and explore ways to contribute positively to society. In collaboration with UNESCO's Education for Sustainable Development initiative, this competition aims to inspire the next generation to imagine a harmonious world and take action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

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Theme: The theme of this year's competition is "My Experience of Overcoming Conflict". Participants are encouraged to share personal narratives about navigating through conflict, elucidating the lessons learnt and the implications for their lives and communities. Conflicts can arise from a variety of sources, including differences of opinion and values. Through this theme, contestants are led to delve into their own conflict resolution journeys and contemplate how their experiences can contribute to positive change.

Guidelines:

1. Eligibility: Individuals up to the age of 25 (as of 15 June 2024) can take part in two age categories: Children (up to 14) and Youth (15 to 25).
2. Writing specifications: Entries must be in English, French or Japanese, with a word limit of 700 words or less for English/French essays and 1,600 characters or less for Japanese essays. Essays must be typed and include the author's name, email address and essay title at the top of the first page. Formatting rules are flexible, but submissions must be in MS Word (DOC/DOCX) or PDF format.
3. Shipping: Entries must be submitted online via the registration page. Submissions by post or e-mail will not be accepted. Teachers and youth directors can submit entries on behalf of their class or group by creating an account for school/organisation participants.
4. Originality: Essays must be original and unpublished, with no plagiarised or AI-generated content. Co-authored essays are not permitted.
5. Publication: By submitting an essay, participants grant the organiser permission to publish it in any medium, retaining ownership.
6. Deadline: Applications must be received by 15 June 2024, 23:59 (local time).

Awards: The competition offers prizes in the Children's and Youth categories:

• 1st Prize: Certificate, prize of 100,000 yen (approximately US$ 660) and a gift (1 winner per category)
• 2nd Prize: Certificate, prize of 50,000 yen (approximately US$ 330) and a gift (3 winners per category)
• 3rd Prize: Certificate and gift (5 winners per category)
• Honourable Mention: Certificate and gift (25 winners) In addition, the 1st to 3rd prize winners will be invited to an online Winners' Meeting. Other awards, such as the Best School Award and the School Incentive Award, will be presented as applicable. All winners will be announced on 31 October 2024 on the Goi Peace Foundation website, with certificates and gifts sent in January 2025.

Conclusion: Young people are invited to take part in the 2024 International Youth Essay Competition, offering them a platform to share their experiences of overcoming conflict and contributing to a culture of peace and sustainability. Through this competition, the Goi Peace Foundation aims to empower young people to become agents of positive change in their communities and beyond. For more information and to submit entries, visit the Goi Peace Foundation website.