Thank you to all who participated in the 2023 Youth Essay Competition.
We were gratified to receive so many well researched, thoughtful, compassionate, and compelling essays; covering topics as diverse as equity and inclusion, malnutrition, waste management, economic development, mental health, nuclear power, democracy, and more. It was difficult for the judges to narrow to just a few, and they extend their appreciation to all who contributed.
Winners of the competition will present their ideas at a national gathering of philanthropists, business leaders, and nonprofit executives, hosted by Indiaspora and Give, at Stanford University on September 29. We are grateful to our sponsors from the Sarva Mangal Family Trust, Sehgal Foundation, and Give for the support of this important initiative.
Shaunya Kumar, Grade 9
High School Winner, Shakopee, MN
I entered the IPA essay contest to share my views on the caste system, an issue I deeply care about. The contest offered the perfect platform to express my opinions truthfully and reach an audience that had the power to significantly address the problem. I wanted to vocalize the hardships and prejudice in India, especially for its majority population. Winning the contest means I can actually “be the change” that we teens always talk about.
Shaunya will be gifting her $1000 award to Dalit Solidarity. Read her essay here.
Aarshi Chaudhary, Grade 8
Middle School Winner, Newbury Park, CA
I was inspired to write my essay on "A Solution to Poverty - India’s Most Pressing Developmental Issue" by the realization that poverty is not just a lack of money, but an impediment to realizing one's full potential. Through the process of researching and writing, I learned about the complex causes of poverty in India, such as population growth, unemployment, and socioeconomic inequality.
Aarshi will be gifting her $1000 award to Surya-Chandra Foundation. Read her essay here.
Prerna Chakkingal, Grade 11
High School Runner-up, McDonald, PA
When I read the essay prompt, choosing a topic was almost effortless because of my trip to India, which changed my perspective on the "Adivasis". I am thankful for this competition because it allowed me to do more research on a topic I truly care about and brainstorm solutions that I may become a part of one day. I hope to carry through with these ideas and philosophies to hopefully change the lives of the scheduled tribes in India.
Prerna will be gifting her $500 award to The Highrange Rural Development Society. Read her essay here.
Krishita Kataria, Grade 8, Middle School Runner-up, Dublin, California
Participating in the competition was driven by a shared belief in the Indian Philanthropy Alliance's mission to empower youth-led philanthropic efforts. I strongly feel that we bear a responsibility to leverage our resources to give back to our community. Through my essay, I explored ways to make a meaningful impact beyond financial contributions by building awareness, advocacy, and grassroots initiatives.
Krishita will be gifting her $500 award to Iimpact. Read her essay here.
Melvin Joseph, Grade 11
High School Finalist, Milton, Massachusetts
My family and I visit our grandparents in rural Kerala every summer. Each time, I wonder what we’d do if a family member—especially a grandparent—had a medical emergency. The opportunity to supplement what I witnessed and heard [in Kerala] through research and academic writing was empowering. While I learned that a national healthcare crisis plagued India, it was reassuring to know that a combined effort of the public and private sector could very well provide a solution. Read Melvin’s essay here.
Shreeya Ram, Grade 10
High School Finalist, El Dorado Hills, California
Women have so much to give to our society, however societal norms and cultural taboos have limited their freedom and participation. This experience opened my eyes to the complexities of gender inequality, deep-rooted cultural biases, and the need for collective efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable society. Read Shreeya’s essay here.
More on the Youth Essay Competition
The competition was launched in February of 2020 as a vehicle to encourage philanthropic thought and action among American youth with ties to, or interest in, India. Now in its fourth year, the competition has brought dedicated and talented youth together with leading philanthropic organizations in what we hope will be a lifelong commitment to advancing development and poverty reduction programs in India.
The 2023 essays were written in response to the following prompt: Which developmental issue in India do you feel is the most pressing and why? How can we as individuals and as groups be a part of the solution?
To read the top essays from the 2022 competition, click here.
To read the top essays from the 2021 competition, click here.
To read the top essays from the 2020 competition, click here.
Watch for the announcement of our 5th Annual Essay Competition in February, 2024.
To learn about the development of IPA and its role in advancing collaboration among leading NGOs in India, click here.