Essay competition "Words of Resilience: Youth Perspectives on Urban Flood Solutions"
🏆 Prizes: First Prize - $500 | Second Prize - $350 | Third Prize - $150
📣Calling all young minds!📣
Youth4DRR is excited to announce the launch of our essay competition, "Words of Resilience: Youth Perspectives on Urban Flood Solutions".
We believe in the power of young voices to drive change and innovation! If you're aged 18-30 and a citizen of a Southeast Asian country, this is YOUR chance to express your ideas and solutions to urban flooding through the written word!
Eligibility Criteria:
- 18-30 years old
- Citizen of a Southeast Asian country
- Essay of 750 words maximum
- Written in English
- Submitted as a Word and PDF file
This is your chance to make an impact. Your voice matters. Your ideas can drive resilience. Let's tackle urban flooding together, one word at a time!
About the competition
The “Words of Resilience: Youth Perspectives on Urban Flood Solutions” project is undertaken to address the pressing challenge of urban flooding, a consequence of climate change, rapid urbanization, and inadequate risk reduction infrastructure.
As cities continue to expand and become more densely populated, they face increasing susceptibility to the devastating impacts of floods, which can lead to significant economic losses, property damage, and threats to public health and safety.
This project aims to provide a platform for young people to express their concerns, ideas, and solutions for urban flood resilience through written essays, thereby raising awareness about the issue and promoting innovative strategies to mitigate flood risks.
Suggested essay topics
While we encourage you to explore any aspect of urban flooding that interests you, here are some suggested essay topics to help guide your writing process:
- My lived experience – A First-Hand Account of Urban Flooding Impact in my City
- Youth Engagement in Developing and Promoting Early Warning Systems
- Incorporating Local Knowledge and Practices in Early Warning Systems for Floods
- The Role of Urban Planning in Flood Resilience: Opportunities and Challenges.
- Understanding Vulnerability in Urban Flood Risks: How Can We Do Better?
- The Impact of Urban Flooding on Health and Wellbeing: A Call for Action.
- Innovative Technologies for Enhancing Urban Flood Resilience.
- Building Back Better: Post-Flood Recovery and Reconstruction in Urban Areas.
- Policy Frameworks and Governance for Urban Flood Resilience.
Timeline:
- August 1 to November 30, 2023 - Call for submissions
- December to February - Judging period
- March 23, 2024 - Winners announced on WORLD METEOROLOGICAL DAY
Essay Checklist:
- Word Count: Entries must be no more than 750 words in length. This does not include the title or any references.
- Language: Entries must be written in English.
- File Format: Entries must be uploaded as both a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx) and a PDF file.
- Original Work: Entries must be the original work of the entrant. Any instances of plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.
- Unpublished Work: Entries must not have been previously published anywhere in print or online, including personal blogs and social media.
- Single Entry: Each participant may submit only one entry. Multiple entries from a single participant will result in disqualification.
- Topic Relevance: Entries must be relevant to the theme of urban flood resilience.
- Non-Transferable: Submissions cannot be made on behalf of someone else; the person who submits the essay must be the author.
- No Offensive Content: Essays should not contain any content that is offensive, inappropriate, or contrary to any laws.
- Acceptance of Terms and Conditions: By participating in the competition, entrants agree to abide by all the rules and decisions of the organisers.
Eligibility Checklist:
- Age: Entrants must be between 18-30 years old at the time of submission.
- Nationality: Entrants must be citizens of a Southeast Asian country. Valid proof of citizenship is required.