Are you a bold, knowledgeable and open youth living with HIV?
Are you interested in contributing to a noble cause and, would, at the same time, like to try for a chance to win a cash price and get published on our website and blog?
Would you like the virus living in you to know exactly how you feel about it?
If you have answered yes to all these questions, then this writing competition is for you.
PositivelySharing launched its annual essay competition in 2022. It allows talented youths living with HIV to enlighten the public about the virus. Every year, youths will be invited to explore a challenging and interesting issue relating to the virus that will enable them share their personal experience.
The charity is looking for youths between the ages of 18 and 25 who are passionate about HIV-related matters and have a deep understanding of the virus and how living with it affects their lives, to educate the public by sharing personal experiences in an eye-opening manner. The aim is to 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 competition is open exclusively to youths living with HIV in Nigeria and submissions must be written in English. Candidates must be older than eighteen years on 30th July 2023 – the submission deadline.
Criteria
Participants’ work will be assessed by our judges who are mostly experts in the field of HIV. They will select the overall ‘best entry.’ Entries will be judged on the level of knowledge and understanding of the virus, structure, writing style and persuasive force.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a short interview.
Competition Rules
The letter must not exceed 500 words. Please email your submission, saved in pdf format, to essaycompetitions@positivelysharing.org. You are only permitted to submit one entry which must be original and entirely your work.
You should receive an email confirmation after submitting your entry. If you do not receive one within 4 days, please contact us through the email address above.
Key Dates
Wednesday, 30 July: Submission deadline
Wednesday, 15 September – Shortlisted candidates notified and panel interview scheduled.
Wednesday, 30 September 2023 Winner(s) announced during a virtual award ceremony.
Prizes
The candidate who submits the best entry overall will be awarded a cash prize of N100,000.
The judges’ decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
Essay Topic: Write a letter directly to the virus in your blood stream expressing what you would like it to know about your HIV journey so far.
If you have any questions relating to the competition, please contact us on essaycompetition@positivelysharing.org