The Call for Submissions !

The 2023 Youth Essay Competition is underway! Deadline July 1, 2023

The annual youth essay competition, organized by the India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA), is an invitation to middle and high school students in the U.S. to take leadership roles in learning about and examining the biggest development challenges in India today. 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! 

Are you ready to stand up and be heard? Let’s get started! 

ESSAY TOPIC

India is the world’s largest democracy. It has undergone significant shifts in recent years and has progressed on several fronts over the past 25 years. 

However, much still needs to be done to improve the well-being and address the unmet needs of vulnerable communities in India through 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? How can American individuals and groups be a part of the solution? 

The well-being of Indian people can be impacted by various developmental issues. Participants are rewarded for essay originality, so be sure to think outside of the box!

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Essays will be evaluated by a panel of judges on the following criteria:

  • Topic relevance, originality, and clarity in response.

  • A compelling issue analysis supported by evidence and conclusions.

  • An understanding and articulation of the issue in a way that resonates from a deeper or personal perspective.

  • Advocating creative solutions and suggesting ways that US residents can be a part of the solution.

ELIGIBILITY

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.

SUBMISSION AND AWARD DETAILS

Timeline - Essay submissions are required by July 1, 2023; selection and announcement of winners, runners-up, and finalists, will be made in early August. Winners must be able to travel to the San Francisco area to take part in a meeting that will be held on September 29, 2023 in order to present their award-winning ideas to a gathering of philanthropists, business leaders, and nonprofit leaders. All flight and hotel expenses will be covered for the winners.

Competition categories - Entrants in the essay competition are divided into two categories (middle and high school) determined by the student’s grade level as of spring 2023. Applicants from each cohort will respond as below:

  • Middle school students: please respond to the prompt in 600 words or fewer.

  • High school students: please respond to the prompt in 1,200 words or fewer.

Essays can be submitted through IPA’s online form below with the following steps:

  • Please complete the online form and provide your 1) first and last name, 2) home city and state, 3) the grade level you will complete in the spring/summer of 2023, and 4) your email and phone. 

  • Submit your essay as a .pdf or .docx file attachment via the online form.

  • Competition winners, runners-up, and finalists will be asked to submit written permission to have their name, grade level, city and state, essay, and photo shared on print, digital, and social media. We will also require permission from parent/s or legal guardian/s.

  • For any questions or difficulty in accessing the online form, please reach out by email to peg@indiaphilanthropyalliance.org. 

SUBMIT YOUR ESSAY THROUGH ONLINE FORM HERE. If you have trouble accessing this form, please email your essay along with your first and last name, phone number, city and state, and the grade level you completed in the spring/summer of 2023 to peg@indiaphilanthropyalliance.org.

Awards:

One winner will be selected in each category – middle school and high school, and will receive the following:

  • Winners will present their award-winning ideas at a national level gathering of leading philanthropists, business, and nonprofit leaders at a high-impact Philanthropy Summit in San Francisco. All hotel and flight expenses will be covered for the winners.

  • Winners will be able to direct a grant of $1000 to the charity of their choice. Runners-up will be able to direct a grant of $500 to the charity of their choice.  

  • The essays of the winners, runners-up, and finalists are published and widely promoted by IPA through traditional, digital, and social media. 

Click here to view the essays of winners and finalists in the 2022 competition.
Click here to view the essays of winners and finalists in the 2021 competition.
Click here to view the essays of winners and finalists in the 2020 competition.

Our heartfelt thanks

The IPA is sincerely grateful to the competition’s founding sponsor Sarva Mangal Family Trust, supported by the Shah Family of Orange County and their company, MS International, Inc. We are also grateful to the Iowa-based Sehgal Foundation, which has been a sponsor since 2022 and helped the competition grow in its reach and impact. We welcome and offer our thanks to Give, (formerly GiveIndia) India’s largest donation and fundraising platform, for its sponsorship of the 2023 essay completion and for providing the winners a terrific platform to share their ideas.