Thank you for your submission!

The deadline for the 2023 Youth Essay Competition was July 1. Judges are currently reviewing the essays and will select the winners, runners-up, and finalists by the end of July. Winners will be announced in mid-August.

The IPA Youth Essay Competition is an annual event, open to middle and high school students who are citizens of the U.S. or permanent residents. The purpose of the competition is to give youth the opportunity to demonstrate their leadership capabilities by learning about and articulating one of the greatest development challenges facing India today defining ways in which we can be part of the solution.

ESSAY PROMPT

India is the world’s largest democracy. It has undergone significant shifts in recent years and has progressed on several fronts. Yet much remains to be done to address the unmet needs of vulnerable communities.

Each submitted essay should answer the following question: 

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? 

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 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 for the 2023 competition were due on July 1. Selection and announcement of winners, runners-up, and finalists, will be made in mid-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 determined by the student’s grade level as of spring 2023. Applicants from each cohort 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. 

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 gathering of leading philanthropists, business, and nonprofit leaders at a high-impact Philanthropy Summit in San Francisco.

  • 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 thank 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.