First Annual PostivelySharing Essay Competition
Are you a knowledgeable and open youth living with HIV?
Are you interested in contributing to a noble cause and, at the same time, try for a chance to win a cash prize and get published on our website and blog [if you so desire]? Would you like to share your knowledge of the HIV virus and also display your writing and persuasion skills?
If you have answered yes to these questions, then this essay writing competition is for you.
PositivelySharing is launching an annual essay competition on a variety of subjects relating to HIV that will allow talented youths living with HIV to enlighten and/or educate the public about HIV-related issues. Every year, youths will be invited to explore a wide range of challenging and interesting issues relating to the virus that will enable them to share their personal experiences in a positive and eye-opening manner. The charity is looking for youths between the ages of 18 and 24 who are passionate about HIV-related
matters, have a deep understanding of how living with the virus affects lives and are also conversant with biomedical and other advances in HIV treatment, prevention etc. to enter the essay competition.
The aim is to encourage participants to educate the public about HIV and reduce the devastating effects of HIV stigma and discrimination on People Living With and affected by HIV.
Please read the competition rules and submission guidelines below carefully before entering the competition.
Entry Requirements
The essay competition is exclusively for youths living with HIV who reside in Nigeria and submissions must be written in English. Candidates must be at least eighteen years and/or older on 28 February 2023, the submission deadline.
Criteria
Essay participants’ work will be assessed by judges who are mostly academics and experts in the field of HIV. They will select the overall ‘best essay.’ Essays will be judged on the level of knowledge and understanding of the relevant material, structure, writing style and persuasive force, competent use of evidence and quality of argumentation. Participants
are advised to discuss the topic precisely and directly, identify possible solutions and support what they write with relevant examples from their knowledge and experience.
Competition Rules
The essay must not exceed 1,500 words (not counting diagrams, tables of data, footnotes, bibliography or authorship declaration). Please submit your essay saved in pdf format to essaycompetitions@positivelysharing.org. The file name should indicate your SURNAME and First Name (e.g. BENETTON Shora). Each page should be numbered and contain your full name.
You should receive an email confirmation after submitting your essay. If you do not receive confirmation within 48 hours, please contact us through the email address. Any technical difficulties will be dealt with immediately. In some circumstances, participants affected may be allowed to submit late.
You are only permitted to submit one entry to the competition which must be entirely your work.
The submission must not have been submitted to an examination board as part of any coursework or extended essay, either in part or in full.
Key Dates
Tuesday 28 February 2023: Submission deadline
Friday 14 April 2023 – Shortlisted candidates notified and invited for an interview. You will be required to complete an application form at his point.
Thursday 15 June 2022– Winner (s) announced December during a private virtual award ceremony.
Prize
The candidate who submits the best essay overall will be awarded a cash prize of =N=350,000.
The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
Contact us
If you have any questions relating to the competition, please contact us
at essaycompetition@positivelysharing.org