News Notes
In the spring of 2020, the India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA) introduced the Youth Essay Competition as a catalyst to foster philanthropic thinking and action among youth. The competition stands as a testament to the fusion of youthful dedication and philanthropic leadership, uniting bright young minds with organizations at the forefront of development and poverty alleviation in India. In their essays, students select the issue they believe to be most important and define ways in which we can all be part of the solution. This year, students are invited to also delve into India’s untold narratives, to uncover and amplify the less visible yet critical issues affecting India.
India is the world’s largest democracy. In recent years, it has undergone significant shifts and has progressed on several fronts.
While many of the unmet needs and challenges of India’s vulnerable communities have been brought into the mainstream in recent years, much still needs to be done to address hidden realities and achieve creative solutions to inadequate and inequitable access to food, shelter, healthcare, clean water, education, women’s empowerment, and a safe environment.
Each submitted essay should answer the following question:
Which developmental issue in India do you feel is most pressing and why? What are the lesser-known challenges and impacts posed by this issue? How can American individuals and groups be a part of the solution?
Participants are rewarded for essay originality.
The essay competition is open to middle and high school students who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents. You do not need to be Indian American to participate in this competition.
Entrants in the essay competition are divided into two categories determined by the student’s grade level as of spring 2024. Middle school students are invited to respond to the prompt in 600 words or fewer. High school students are invited to respond to the prompt in 900 words or fewer.
The winners will present their award-winning ideas at a national gathering of leading philanthropists, business, and nonprofit leaders at a high-impact Philanthropy Summit in the fall of 2024. The date and location are to be determined.
Essays of the winners, runners-up, and finalists are published and widely promoted by IPA.
Deadline is July 1, 2024. For details, visit indiaphilanthropyalliance.org/2024youthessay.
