Calling all young actors for change! Take part in the YouthLead - Reaching16 Editorial Competition and join us in the defence of peace, justice and strong institutions! "Reaching 16" refers to the Target 16 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aims to promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies. It also serves as a reference and commitment to ensuring that young people reach the age of 16 and beyond, stabilising communities. As a young changemaker, our Reaching16 writing competition provides a unique platform to share your personal experience and creative voice with the world!

Application deadline:13th January 2021

We invite written submissions, in the form of a personal essay, that tell us about the important work you or someone you know is doing to ensure your community is reaching 16. (Community can be defined as a group of people with whom you share common attitudes, interests and goals at a local, district, national or global level, or in some other way that makes sense to each author). We will select 16 winning essays from the submissions. With the author's permission, the winning essays will be published on YouthLead.org and promoted through our social media channels and youthLead newsletter. If published, we will only use the author's first name or pseudonym.

Changemakers between the ages of 18 and 35 can only submit one test.
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An excellent personal essay captivates readers by sharing the author's authentic voice. It takes the reader into the writer's experience through descriptive words and examples and gives an insight into the author's passion and inspirations for being involved in peace, justice and building strong institutions.

Format and length: Each submission must have a title and cannot exceed 800 words. Although this is not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to send a photo of yourself or the work done in your community.

Language: Essays can be written in English, Spanish or French. No other language will be accepted.

Each entry must fulfil the following bidding requirements:

Who can enter

The competition is open to all members of the public:

Citizens of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) listed here;

- 18 to 35 years old e;

YouthLead members with a full membership profile of at least 80%. Becoming a YouthLead member is easy and free. All participants must be successfully registered with YouthLead. As registration can take several days to process, all YouthLead.org requests must be submitted at least four working days before the end of the registration period to ensure timely approval to enter the competition.

Create your profile in English here or in Spanish here. (Please note that we allow personal essays to be submitted in French, but we do not have a separate French registration or submission page). Applications to YouthLead.org must be submitted at least two working days (13 January 2021) before the end of the application period to ensure timely approval to enter the competition.

Note: USAID employees and employees of YouthPower2: Learning and Evaluation Sponsors and YouthPower2: Learning and Evaluation Majors and Subcontractors are not eligible to participate or win. Current Youth Ambassadors or Youth Ambassadors are also not eligible to participate or win.
Other
submission conditions All written submissions must be the original work of the participant (i.e. written by the participant).

1. All requests must be sent to here. (Submissions in French or Spanish will also use the same link as submissions in English. You can use "Select language" in the top right-hand corner of the screen to translate the submission page into French or Spanish).
2. By participating in the YouthLead-Reaching16 editorial competition, participants agree and acknowledge that Making Cents International, director of YouthPower2: Learning and Evaluation (YP2LE), is authorised to receive and review the participant's registration data. All personal information will be used by YP2LE in accordance with the YouthPower2: Learning and Evaluation Policy. Privacy YouthLead.org and the rules of the YouthLead-Reaching16 editorial competition.
3. Written documents must have been written between 7 December 2020 and the competition deadline of 15 January 2021. Entries published on other platforms or previous publications will not be considered.
   How to enter
   Step 1: Sign up for YouthLead (go to step 2 if you're already a member!)

All candidates must be registered on YouthLead.org before they can enter the competition. Applications to YouthLead.org must be submitted at least two working days (13 January 2021) before the end of the application period to ensure timely approval to enter the competition. Create your profile in English here or in Spanish here.

Step 2: Connect to YouthLead

Taking part is easy! Go to"Events,then click on "YouthLead Editorial Contest Announcement - Reaching16" to start submitting your contest. (Submit here in English, Spanish or French). Participants can submit a maximum of one entry (i.e. one personal essay).

Step 3: Enter your text

Type the text into the relevant submission field or copy and paste the text. You can use bold characters, italics and underlining to shape your text. Please note that the maximum word count is 800 words.

Step 4: Select the language in which you send your request

Select English, French or Spanish. No other languages will be accepted.

Step 5: Accept the terms and conditions and click Submit.

selective

1. Entries that do not fulfil the submission criteria and/or written formats of the competition will be excluded.

1. The jury's decisions are final and without appeal.
2. This is a skills-based competition and chance plays no part in determining the winners.

For more information:

Visit the official YouthLead - 16 2020 editorial competition page