The results for IPA’s 2020 Youth Essay Competition were announced in September, 2020, and winners spoke at a special session of an IPA philanthropy summit held October 1st of the same year. You can view 12 minutes of their panel discussion here.

Four judges nominated by the Alliance read all of the submitted essays and selected a winner, a runner-up, and several finalists in the two age categories (high school and middle school).  Click on the names below to read their essays. 

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Background

As a first step toward activating and nurturing the philanthropic impulse amongst second and third-generation Indian-Americans, and others with affinity for India, the Alliance sponsored a nationwide youth essay competition focused on the importance of philanthropy in general as well as donating to benefit India. The hope was, and continues to be, to generate promising new ideas from young people about how to engage youth (and others) in philanthropy, including in effective philanthropy benefiting India.

The Sarva Mangal Family Trust, supported by the Shah Family of Orange County and their company MS International, Inc., sponsored this pilot through a generous donation and by advising and assisting throughout the entire process. The competition received positive news coverage, including this article from The American Bazaar.

The competition was available to youth in 2 cohorts based on their grade level (middle school or high school) during the 2019-2020 academic year.  The guidelines (which appear below) for each cohort were the same, but the length was adjusted to the maturity levels of each age group. 

Winners and finalists were chosen by a panel of philanthropy experts appointed by IPA. The authors of the best essay in each age group were invited to the Indiaspora Philanthropy Summit to present their award-winning ideas. The winners were invited to help shape, organize, and determine the winners of the 2021 competition. 

Essay Guidelines

Each submitted essay answered the following question:

India is the world’s largest democracy and has made significant progress on social and environmental issues over the past 25 years.  But India and its 1.3 billion people still have many urgent and unmet needs including access to food, shelter, health care, clean water, education, and a safe environment.   What do you think is the most significant issue facing India and its people today?  What role do you think individuals (young and old) and groups here in the U.S. can play in being a part of the solution?  Have you come across any work towards solving some of these problems that has inspired you?  What inspires and motivates you to be a part of the solution and supporting India's potential and why?

Middle School Students (2019-20 academic year): Please respond to this in 600 words or fewer.

High School Students (2019-20 academic year): Please respond to this in 1,200 words or fewer.

Each essay was scored on content/coherence (50%), originality (30%), and presentation/style (20%). 

Eligibility

All applicants state in their cover letter or email that they are:

• In middle school or high school during the 2019-2020 academic year

• Are the primary author of their submitted essay and are a U.S. citizen or resident

• Are willing to have their essay, if determined to be a finalist, published on the Internet

• Are willing, in principle, if they are determined to be the winner of their age group, to participate in and speak at the Indiaspora Philanthropy Summit and to help organize the essay competition in 2020-2021.