Applications call for FITC Youth Connect Essay Challenge 2020

The Youth Connect Essay Challenge is organized to harness the creativity and innovation mindset of the African youth in promoting growth and development in Africa. The objective is to develop in undergraduate students the habit of contributing to national and global issues, as well as providing policymakers with an accessible perspective. It aims to promote excellence and knowledge amongst young minds, putting them in the shoes of game-changers and problem solvers, in the African Landscape and the world at large.

Theme

ACCELERATING GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA: THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION.

Prizes

The prizes of FITC Youth Connect Essay Challenge are as follows

• Winner: $1,000 + Laptop + Leadership Certification Programme + 1-year Mentorship Programme
• 1st runner up: $500 + Laptop + 1-year Mentorship Programme
• 2nd runner up: Laptop + 1-year Mentorship Programme

Eligibility Criteria

• This Essay is open to undergraduates from all tertiary institutions in Africa
• The essay can be in English or French and must not exceed 1000 words.
• Entrants are expected to show originality, creativity, clarity and focus on the topic
• Essays must be original and unpublished. Plagiarized entries will be disqualified.
• Essays must be written by one person. Co-written essays will not be accepted.
• One entry per person.
• Entries will be disqualified if they fail to meet these requirements.

Entry Format

The entry format for FITC Youth Connect Essay Challenge are

• Entries to the competition must be submitted using the official entry form found here and must be before midnight Central African Time on Monday, August 31, 2020.
• There is no registration fee or purchase required for participation.
• Only entries that are duly received by us by the closing date will be eligible for the competition.
• Entries not submitted following these terms and all other rules and directions, or entries that are incomplete and illegible will not be eligible.
• Each entrant is required to submit only one entry to the competition.

Essay Format

• An essay can be written in English or French language and must include a title.
• An essay must reflect the participants own work and original thinking and may not infringe on the rights of any other party.
• Any quotations or copyrighted material must be identified and referenced.
• It should not exceed 1000 words

Evaluation

The evaluation of FITC Youth Connect Essay Challenge will be carried out by a judging panel following the closing date of August 31, 2020. Essays will be evaluated on:

• Theme: How essay creatively relates to the competition theme
• Focus and Details: Whether essays are well focused and supported
• Organization and Ideas: How original ideas are, how they are presented and whether they capture the readers’ attention
• Use of Conventions: Whether spelling, grammar and punctuation interrupt reading and detract from the meaning of the essay
• Voice: Whether the writer’s unique perspective is shown

 Contestant Guidelines