Home Contests Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2018 for young writers from Commonwealth Nations (Fully Funded to London)

Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2018 for young writers from Commonwealth Nations (Fully Funded to London)

by OFA

Application Deadline: June 1st 2018

You can now submit your essay for the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2018.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is the world’s oldest schools’ international writing competition, established in 1883. With thousands of young people taking part every year, it is an important way for the young voice of the Commonwealth to be developed and heard.
Through the sub-themes of sustainability, safety, prosperity and fairness, the 2018 theme asks young writers to explore how the Commonwealth can address global challenges and work to create a better future for all citizens, particularly young people.

Building upon the 2017 theme of ‘A Commonwealth for Peace’, this year’s theme ‘Towards a Common Future’ and its topics ask young writers to explore how the Commonwealth can address global challenges and work to create a better future for all citizens through sub-themes of sustainability, safety, prosperity and fairness, in line with the theme of the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London.

Guidelines

  • All nationals and residents of all Commonwealth countries and territories aged 18 and under are eligible to enter the competition, including entrants from The Gambia, The Maldives and Zimbabwe.
  • Residents of non-Commonwealth countries whose entries are submitted through their local RCS branch are also eligible.
  • All entries must be in English
  • Entrants are asked to present their work in the format that best conveys their message, be that an essay, poem, story, folk tale, script, letter, diary entry, monologue or other written style. Photos and drawings are encouraged, particularly in the Junior Category.
Topics

Senior Category
Born between 2nd June 1999 and 31st May 2004 (14-18 years of age)

  1. The road to a safer future.
  2. How does education contribute to a fairer future?
  3. ‘Healthy, Wealthy, Happy, and Free’: is one more important than the others?
  4. Future generations have rights too, which must be defended. Discuss.

Junior Category
Born after 31st May 2004 (under 14 years of age)

  1. What does a ‘safer future’ mean to you and your community?
  2. Write a recipe for a common future: what ingredients will you need? What is the best method for making it? What will it look like?
  3. ‘A Day in the Life’. Imagine you are your country’s Head of Government for the day: how will you build a better future for young people?
  4. Our Common Earth.

Judges described entries to the competition in 2017 as ‘emotive’ ‘hauntingly assuring’ ’striking’ and as having ‘powerful narratives’, that ‘this letter should be read by everyone’. We expect a similiarly high calibre of writing for 2018.

AWARDS
  • One Winner and Runner-up will be chosen from each category.
  • Winners and Runners-up will be flown to London for a week of educational and cultural events, culminating in a special Awards Ceremony.
  • A number of Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards will be given in both the Senior and Junior categories, rewarding excellence in writing.
  • All entrants will receive a Certificate of Participation.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2018

You may also like

9 comments

Pauleen Banda January 11, 2018 - 2:27 am

Been a part of this has always been my dream.. Unfortunately the age limit does not allow. Am a Zambian young lady aged 24 and a student nurse at Chreso University. My plea to whom it may concern is that the age limit can be reconsired. Your consideration will be highly appreciated. Thank you

Reply
Gargi vats January 12, 2018 - 3:20 am

Where to post this essay

Plz suggest any link or something

Reply
Fawole joshua February 16, 2018 - 8:32 am

Will the medals be for the winner and the runnerup only?

Reply
coreen March 30, 2018 - 2:55 pm

where do i submit my essay

Reply
James K Kuriakose April 2, 2018 - 11:05 am

We, Indians formerly British colony, interested to empower people in our sister Commonwealth countries along with ours because we realized about the contributions of East india company supported by British Government for our education by the great Christian Missionaries especially in Kerala ( My native state ). The information about essay competition which I knew is an enthralling and gleeful moment which I have ever experienced. Go ahead

Reply
Moses Plangkat April 12, 2018 - 10:07 pm

Hello been looking for the link to mail the essay competition but have not seen any yet. Can you please provide a link or mail address for that? thanks

Reply
Rumbidzai Bere May 11, 2018 - 2:30 pm

Please advise on the instructions to send the essay. The link to more information is not working

Reply
Helen David October 16, 2018 - 9:36 am

I would like to enrol my students for the next edition. Kindly let me know the deadline. I am from DPS International Ghana, West Africa

Reply
2019 Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition for Young Writers from Commonwealth Nations | Opportunities For Africans November 7, 2018 - 8:03 pm

[…] Royal Commonwealth Society is pleased to announce the theme for The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2019 – A Connected […]

Reply

Leave a Comment