commonwealth essay competition 2022 prizes

The Queen celebrates winners of the 2022 Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition

Camilla remembered the late queen as she recognised writers from across the world.

• Kieran Rumsby
• 29 November 2022
• The King and Queen

To celebrate this year’s Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, The Queen Consort hosted the winners and celebrity guests at Buckingham Palace to mark the occasion.  

It was also an opportunity for Her Majesty to make her first speech as Queen Consort, where she paid tribute to her ‘dear mother-in-law’, who was in her thoughts and ‘greatly missed by us all’.

Queen Camilla at a reception for the winners of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition at Buckingham Palace

The Queen Consort had noted how the late Queen had been Patron of The Royal Commonwealth Society since 1952 and used her ‘remarkable reign’ to improve ‘the lives and prospects of all Commonwealth citizens’.

Alluding to the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth I coming to the throne in 1558, The Queen Consort quoted the previous monarch ‘you never had any that will love you better’ and said the description could be applied to Queen Elizabeth II and ‘her enduring love for the Commonwealth’.

Reflecting on the time since the Queen’s passing in September , The King and Queen have received messages of condolence from ‘the four corners of the world’. She said it has provided them with ‘immense comfort’, and continues to do so as they still receive messages.  

The King and Queen Consort view tributes outside Buckingham Palace. (Royal Family)

Camilla noted these messages have ‘reminded us the written world has unique ability to connect, to heal, to reassure and to offer hope, even in the midst of grief.’  

Upon their return to London after the Queen’s passing, The King and Queen Consort saw the vast amount of tributes that had already been left outside of Buckingham Palace on their return to London from Scotland.

Camilla compared the written messages to the winners of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, who know ‘the power of the written word’. She explained how this year’s participants had ‘produced brilliant pieces that explored inspirational leadership, through reflecting on the example of Her Late Majesty’ and the theme for this year, ‘Our Commonwealth’.

The competition is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools. This year’s competition received more than 26,000 entries, with winners from New Zealand, Australia, India and the United Kingdom.

The Queen Consort cited Nelson Mandela as a figure who was frequently mentioned in works, as he too ‘understood the power of language’.

‘Mandela was a great writer. He was also described as ‘a man of the Commonwealth’, famously saying on entering Marlborough House, ‘the Commonwealth makes the world safe for diversity’. The Commonwealth, like writing, touches the whole world.’

‘All of us are bound together by a profound appreciation of the written word and of our Commonwealth … the connections between us run deep.’ pic.twitter.com/HiGW3U2wgY — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 17, 2022

Camilla told guests that ‘all of us are bound together by a profound appreciation of the written word and of our Commonwealth’.  

Describing the Commonwealth as a ‘wonderful, extraordinary, richly diverse association of independent and equal nations, and friends, is truly, ‘ours’, belonging to each one of us and the connections between us run deep’.

She concluded her speech by quoting Nelson Mandela: ‘a winner is a dreamer who never gives up’.

Extracts from the winning entries were read by four Royal Commonwealth Society ambassadors, Ben Okri; Alexandra Burke; Ayesha Dharker; and former Spice Girl, Geri Horner.

The Queen Consort is Vice Patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society.

• buckingham palace , camilla , commonwealth , Queen Camilla , the Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition

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The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) is now open for entries

• Westminster News

In 2022, on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee year, Her Majesty The Queen will celebrate 70 years as Head of the Commonwealth.

The Queen’s seven decades of service to the Commonwealth are an inspiring example of the steadfast commitment and important contribution we can all make to our societies.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2022  (QCEC) will ask entrants to explore the positive impact that can be achieved through dedication and selfless commitment to our Commonwealth.

• Click here for more details and to enter the competition

The QCEC, delivered by the Royal Commonwealth Society, is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools. It offers thousands of young people, whatever their background, the opportunity to make their voices heard on a global platform.  In this Platinum Jubilee year of our Sovereign, Her Majesty The Queen, young Commonwealth writers are asked to reflect on inspirational leadership and to explore the positive impact that can be achieved through commitment to their communities within the theme ‘Our Commonwealth’.

Open to all UK residents, aged 18 and under, the competition has two age categories for those aged 14 – 18 years, and those under 14 years. Winners from each category will win a trip to London for a week of educational and cultural activities, culminating in an awards ceremony, usually held at Buckingham Palace and hosted by the Society’s Vice-Patron, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall. All successful entries are recognised for their participation.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition will close for submissions on the 30 June 2022. For more information please visit, www.royalcwsociety.org .

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Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 (Prize + Certificate)

If you have good essay-writing skills and want to participate in an international competition. Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is for you to show your skills and is currently open. In this article, we will explain in detail about this competition, its prize and step by step application process.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools, established in 1883. With thousands of young people taking part each year, it is an important way to recognize achievement, elevate youth voices and develop key skills through creative writing.

To mark the 50th Anniversary of the Commonwealth Youth Programme, Commonwealth Heads of Government declared 2023 a year dedicated to youth-led action for sustainable and inclusive development and called on renewal and strengthening of our commitment to youth engagement and empowerment.

Of the Commonwealth’s population of almost 2.5 billion people, 60% are under the age of 30. This young demographic represents a dynamic ‘youth force for change’, made up of exceptional young people who are increasingly involved in advocacy, decision-making and action.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2023 asks entrants to explore the power young people hold within the global community and consider how this power can be harnessed to make a meaningful impact in the world.

The Society has a rich history of nurturing the creative talents of young people around the Commonwealth and we endeavour to promote literacy, expression and creativity by celebrating excellence and imagination. The Competition invites all young Commonwealth citizens and residents, regardless of region, education or background, to share ideas, celebrate their story and have their voice heard. Through partnerships with Book Aid International, Worldreader and the National Literacy Trust, the Society is working to increase access to this opportunity for a wider range of young people.

Scholarship Summary

• Level of Study: Competition
• Institution(s): The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS)
• Study in: UK
• Deadline: May 15, 2024

Essay Topics

The theme for the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which will take place in Samoa in October 2024, is ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth’.    

Nearly half of Commonwealth countries are Small Island Developing States like Samoa that are disproportionately affected by climate change. Communities across the Commonwealth are also facing a range of challenges, including economic growth, peace and security. Creating strong and resilient societies is now more important than ever.   

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 asks entrants to consider how they deal with adversity, and how community and culture can be used to encourage resilience and hope in a world with a growing number of global issues.  

SENIOR CATEGORY

(Born between 16 May 2005 and 15 May 2010 (14-18 years of age)) 

• “It’s worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change.”– Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. What small steps can you take to help tackle the climate crisis?   
• Write a speech highlighting what you think is the most challenging issue facing the world today, and how Commonwealth values can be used to solve it.      
• At the heart of Samoan way of life is ‘aiga’, meaning ‘family’ values including selflessness, hospitality, co-operation, respect and dignity. What core values and ideas from your culture can be used to enhance co-operation and community in the Commonwealth?  
• The Commonwealth’s London Declaration aimed to strive for peace, liberty and progress. Write a letter to your President or Prime Minister about how to achieve those aims. 

JUNIOR CATEGORY

(Born on or after 16 May 2010 (under 14 years of age))

• What new habit could you adopt to positively contribute towards a greener Commonwealth?   
• Write a dialogue between yourself and a grandparent about resilience and hope. What can you share with the older generation, and what can you learn from them?  
• You are taking part in a beach clean-up and discover that you can speak to sea creatures. What are they saying, and how do you respond?
• You’re on a school exchange in a Commonwealth country different to your own. How do you make friends with people your age? (Consider similarities and differences in culture that may unite you).

Scholarship Coverage/Prize

Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition provides the recipient with the following benefits:

– All entrants receive a Certificate of Participation and one Winner and Runner-up from the Senior and Junior categories will win a trip to London for a week of educational and cultural events.

– Prizes have traditionally been awarded only to the first prize winners in the Senior and Junior categories and also vary year by year. This means they are not able to confirm what the prizes will be until after the winners are announced in August 2024. Past prizes have included:

• Resources for winner’s school
• Certificates
• Visits to Cambridge University
• A trip to London and a week of activities
• Having your entry featured in worldwide media
• Work experience at international organisations, and
• RCS regional and branch offices often hold ceremonies or offer prizes. Please contact your nearest RCS branch after the competition closes on June 30, 2024, to inquire about any activities planned.

Eligibility Criteria for Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition

To participate in the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, following is the criteria:

• Required Language:  All entries must be written in English.
• Eligible Countries: Nationals and residents of all Commonwealth countries and territories aged 18 and under are eligible to enter the competition, including entrants from Zimbabwe.
• Entries are accepted from residents of non-Commonwealth countries who submit through their local RCS branch.
• Entrants can be presented in any form/method of creative writing. Pictures/Illustrations are particularly encouraged in the Junior Category.

How to Apply for Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition?

Please follow the following important application instructions to participate in Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition:

Online Submission:

• The Royal Commonwealth Society is building a new online platform that will be much easier to use and accessible on all devices, but it’s not quite ready yet.
• They are encouraging young people to begin writing their pieces and will open the new platform for submissions in early 2024.
• Please note: They do not accept essays sent by email.

Offline Submissio n  ( P ost):  (Check the  How to Enter  section in the official website for more details)

• Offline submissions are very difficult to process and can mean that your entry arrives after the Competition closing date. They will only accept an offline entry where the person submitting has no access to internet and is unable to submit online.
• If you are submitting your entry by post, please complete an entry form (Can be found in the official website) in block capitals and attach it to the front of your essay. Entries should be sent to your nearest postal hub, details of which are listed below.
• Please note that for postal entries, your essay must be received by June 30, 2023 in order to be eligible. They, therefore, suggest that you send your essay with plenty of time for delivery, as essays received by a postal hub after June 30 will not be considered in the competition.
• Check the official website for posting address.

To know more about Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, please visit the official website:

Official Website

Related Scholarships: 

• UK Scholarships

News | London

East London teen is runner up for Commonwealth writing prize, as winners are revealed

A teenager from East London was the runner up in a writing competition entered by thousands of young people around the Commonwealth .

Amaal Fawzi, 17, who studies English Literature and Creative Writing at university, was named senior runner up in the prize for her poem, ‘Nursing Homes’. She came second to Sawooly Li, 17, from New Zealand.

The Queen ’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) is the world ’s oldest international schools’ writing contest, delivered by the Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883.

Each year, entrants write on a theme that explores the Commonwealth’s values. Themes include the environment, community, inclusion, the role of youth leadership, and gender equality.

Born in Egypt to an Iraqi father and British mother, Amaal was raised in Lebanon, and has been writing poetry for many years.

Her time in Lebanon formed the majority of her character and cultural experiences. Her poetry and prose are inspired by how she interacts with this living in the UK.

Most of her work is concerned with culture and identity, and it’s always personal.

About 140,000 young people, over 5,000 schools and thousands of volunteer judges across the Commonwealth have participated in the competition in the last decade.

This year, its theme was ‘Our Commonwealth’, reflecting on Queen Elizabeth II’s seven decades of service to the Commonwealth.

They received 26,322 entries. The junior winner was Madeleine Wood, 14, from Australia. The junior runner up was Maulika Pandey, 13, from India.

More information can be found on the Royal Commonwealth Society website.

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Indian teenager wins Queen’s Commonwealth essay prize for true story

London : A 13-year-old Indian schoolgirl travelled to London to receive her Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) Prize from Queen Consort Camilla for a true story based on the Forest Man of India, Padma Shri Jadav Molai Payeng.

Today talented young writers from across the Commonwealth gathered at Buckingham Palace to celebrate their work at a reception hosted by The Queen Consort. The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools. pic.twitter.com/laaUm98VUO — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 17, 2022

Maulika Pandey from Uttarakhand was named the Junior Runner-up for her essay entitled The Molai Forest’ and received her citation at a reception in Buckingham Palace on Thursday. It marked the first ceremony of the competition since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September.

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Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2022 (Win a fully-funded trip to London)

Deadline: June 30, 2022

Submit entries for the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2022. The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools, established in 1883. With thousands of young people taking part every year, it is an important way to recognise achievement, elevate youth voices and develop key skills through creative writing.

In 2022, on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee year, Her Majesty The Queen will celebrate 70 years as Head of the Commonwealth. The Queen’s seven decades of service to the Commonwealth are an inspiring example of the steadfast commitment and important contribution we can all make to our societies. The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2022 will ask entrants to explore the positive impact that can be achieved through dedication and selfless commitment to our Commonwealth.

Senior Category

• Imagine you are a Head of Government delivering a speech to your counterparts at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Rwanda. Write a speech that highlights what you believe should be a priority for collective action within the Commonwealth.
• Committed to the Commonwealth.
• Her Majesty The Queen was born in the twentieth century, a period that saw enormous social change driven by visionary and committed leaders. Reflect on an inspirational leader from this period.
• “Whilst experiences of the last year have been different across the Commonwealth, stirring examples of courage, commitment and selfless dedication to duty have been demonstrated in every Commonwealth nation and territory, notably by those working on the frontline who have been delivering healthcare and other public services in their communities.” – Her Majesty The Queen, Commonwealth Day Message 2021.  Imagine you are working on the frontline. Write about your experience, explaining why you serve your community and why your service matters.

Junior Category

• Imagine you are a grandparent in 2022. Tell your grandchildren a bedtime story about an inspirational person.
• What are the best ways for young people to serve the Commonwealth in your view?
• Our Commonwealth community.
• Write a job description for a superhero needed to solve a problem in your community.
• The top two winners from each category will be awarded with a trip to London for a week of educational and cultural events, culminating in a special Awards Ceremony at a royal palace.
• All successful entries will receive a Certificate of Participation and a number of entrants will receive Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards for excellence in writing.

Eligibility

• Applicants to the Senior Category should be born between July 1, 2003 and June 30, 2008 (14-18 years of age);
• The maximum word count for the Senior Category is 1,500 words.
• Applicants to the Junior Category should be born on or after July 1, 2008 (under 14 years of age).
• The word count for the Junior Category is 750 words.

Application

Click here to submit entry

For more information, visit QCEC .

Jude Ogar is an educator and youth development practitioner with years of experience working in the education and youth development space. He is passionate about the development of youth in Africa.

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The Royal Commonwealth Society Bath and District Branch

The queen’s commonwealth essay competition 2022.

March 15, 2022 adminrcs Competition 0

Date/Time Date(s) - 15 March, 2022 - 30 June, 2022 12:00 am

• Competition

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools, established in 1883. With thousands of young people taking part every year, it is an important way to recognise achievement, elevate youth voices and develop key skills through creative writing.  

Please click the image below to view the flyer in PDF format.

Copyright © 2024 | The Royal Commonwealth Society, Bath and District Branch is a registered charity in England (number 1184365)

Cambridge University Library Special Collections

Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition: write around the world

The RCS Library is delighted to announce that a significant recent deposit of essays from The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition has been added to its on-line catalogue (ARCS 20). The competition, originally established in 1883 by the Royal Commonwealth Society, and now run in partnership with Cambridge University Press, is the world’s oldest international schools’ writing contest. It reflects the society’s enduring aim to foster the creative talent of young people throughout the Commonwealth by encouraging literacy, self-expression and imagination.  Last year’s competition, which attracted almost 13,500 entries from primary to Sixth Form students from virtually every Commonwealth country, emphasises its continuing success. The theme of the 2017 competition is ‘A Commonwealth for Peace.’ The library already holds essays from 1922 to 1985 (with some gaps), and all surviving prize winning entries from these years have been digitised and are freely available on the Apollo digital repository .

The latest deposit includes prize winners from the years 1991 to 2009, and a very large collection of commended and other essays for the years 2002-09, totalling more than 20,000. The essays represent an excellent resource for many fields of research relating to education, and for assessing the opinions of intelligent, articulate and engaged young adults throughout the Commonwealth on a host of contemporary political, social and cultural issues. It is impossible here to list all the topics for each year, which range from the light-hearted to the serious, or to single out individual essays. The essays are occasionally accompanied by examiners’ reports, which contain insightful comparative analysis of entries, as an example from 2009 illustrates. One examiner of essays written by thirteen to sixteen year olds (Class B) commented upon the originality, insight and eloquence with which many responded to the themes ‘Tracks’ and ‘The Long Way Home.’  Many reflected upon the theme of war: its aftermath, consequences and the return to a home country after fighting abroad, while others addressed concerns of especial relevance to young adults such as unwanted pregnancies, abortion and abusive relationships.  The examiner concluded, ‘It is remarkable to see such young writers master such sophisticated themes and topics spurred by such vague titles.’

A dedicated and conscientious team of Reader Services Assistants in the Rare Books Department have listed each essay, recording name of author, age, school, country, gender and essay topic. Thanks to their hard work, it will be easy for researchers to quickly sort through the essays, identifying for example, how many students from a particular country or gender answered individual questions, whether they lived in the developed or developing worlds, or studied in state or private schools. In the Class B examiner’s group discussed above, for example, 62 of 150 writers (almost half), were inspired by the theme ‘The Long Way Home.’  They represented thirty different countries, with the three largest numbers of entries drawn from Singapore, Pakistan and India.  Many of the essays are illustrated, especially by younger authors, accompanied by beautiful original art work or photographs, which reinforce their themes. The three examples shown here were the work of eleven and twelve year olds from Class D 2009.

Researchers wishing to view these recently-acquired essays and their listings, and to request reproductions, must first consult staff in the Royal Commonwealth Society Department.

A catalogue of the full collection may be found here .

10 comments

Hi there.. I received a highly commended for Category D (?) in 1997 and was wondering if there are any records of it in the archives? I remember the RCS had a physical book listing all names of prize winners, and my name was in it at the local library many years ago. I would like to know if there is any formal record as such and if the essays are still available?

Hi there, I’d like to know if there were entries from Nigeria between 1984 and 1986. Would also like to know the year Nigeria began to participate in the Queen’s commonwealth essays.

The University Library is currently closed as part of the COVID-19 lockdown, but I will reply as soon as I have access to the essay competition archives.

All the best, John

Thank you so very much!

Hello, I would like to know if we can type the essays, or have to write them.

If you are thinking about participating in the current competition, information about submitting essays may be found here, https://www.royalcwsociety.org/essay-competition .

Hello John, Thank you.

Hello, I would like to know where can I see the winners’ written essays? Are they published?

The entries from 1922-1985 have been scanned and are available in our Apollo repository: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/225222 Copyright in the essays resides with the Royal Commonwealth Society. If you wish to re-publish the essays in any format you will need to seek permission from the Society. The most recent winning entries are available on the RCS website: https://www.royalcwsociety.org/essay-competition

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Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2022 for Young Writers from Commonwealth Nations.

Application Deadline: June 30th, 2022

In 2022, on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee year, Her Majesty The Queen will celebrate 70 years as Head of the Commonwealth. The Queen’s seven decades of service to the Commonwealth are an inspiring example of the steadfast commitment and important contribution we can all make to our societies. The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2022 will ask entrants to explore the positive impact that can be achieved through dedication and selfless commitment to our Commonwealth.

Senior category (Born between 1 July 2003 and 30 June 2008 (14-18 years of age), maximum word count: 1500 words

• Imagine you are a Head of Government delivering a speech to your counterparts at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Rwanda. Write a speech that highlights what you believe should be a priority for collective action within the Commonwealth.
• Committed to the Commonwealth.
• Her Majesty The Queen was born in the twentieth century, a period that saw enormous social change driven by visionary and committed leaders. Reflect on an inspirational leader from this period.
• “Whilst experiences of the last year have been different across the Commonwealth, stirring examples of courage, commitment and selfless dedication to duty have been demonstrated in every Commonwealth nation and territory, notably by those working on the frontline who have been delivering healthcare and other public services in their communities.” – Her Majesty The Queen, Commonwealth Day Message 2021.  Imagine you are working on the frontline. Write about your experience, explaining why you serve your community and why your service matters.

Junior category (Born on or after 1 July 2008 (under 14 years of age), maximum word count: 750 words

• Imagine you are a grandparent in 2022. Tell your grandchildren a bedtime story about an inspirational person.
• What are the best ways for young people to serve the Commonwealth in your view?
• Our Commonwealth community.
• Write a job description for a superhero needed to solve a problem in your community.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2022

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Yale drama series 2023 playwriting competition for emerging playwrights ( $10,000 prize), you may also like, the developpp ventures ideas competition 2021, tech4impact women innovators in technology pitch competition 2022 for women-led..., diaspora enterprise accelerator competition 2017 for young entrepreneurs ( £30,..., singularityu mena global impact challenge 2017 (full sponsorship to attend..., gtbank simple change big impact challenge 2018 for social impact..., undp/govlab multi-city challenge africa 2020, new economic talent 2016 cerge-ei competition for university students., 2015 international association for intelligence education essay competition ($usd 1,500..., block champion 2022 – global blockchain start-up competition for emerging..., reckitt benckiser (rb) global challenge 2020 for social impact students..., leave a comment cancel reply.

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Indian student wins Queen’s Commonwealth essay prize for true story 

Maulika pandey from uttarakhand was named the junior runner-up for her essay entitled ‘the molai forest' and received her citation at a reception in buckingham palace.

A 13-year-old Indian schoolgirl travelled to London to receive her Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) Prize from Queen Consort Camilla for a true story based on the Forest Man of India, Padma Shri Jadav Molai Payeng.

Maulika Pandey from Uttarakhand was named the Junior Runner-up for her essay entitled ‘The Molai Forest’ and received her citation at a reception in Buckingham Palace on Thursday. It marked the first ceremony of the competition since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September.

“All of us are bound together by a profound appreciation of the written word and of our Commonwealth,” said Camilla, wife of King Charles III.

“This wonderful, extraordinary, richly diverse association of independent and equal nations and friends is, truly, ‘ours’, belonging to each one of us, and the connections between us run deep,” said the Queen Consort, who also paid tribute to her late “dear mother-in-law… who is much in our thoughts today”.

During the palace awards ceremony, the winners aged between 13 and 17 years old travelled from India, New Zealand, Australia, and around the UK to be awarded their certificates.

The Senior Winner for 2022 was Sawooly Li, 17, from Auckland for a pandemic-related essay and the Junior Winner was Madeleine Wood, 14, from Melbourne for an inspirational bedtime story.

Also read | Indian students studying abroad are facing accommodation issues, here’s why

The Senior Runner-up was 17-year-old Amaal Fawzi from London, also for an essay related to frontline workers in the pandemic, and Pandey the Junior Runner-Up for her tale of Jadav Molai Payeng’s world-famous tree planting mission in Jorhat , Assam.

Extracts from their winning pieces were read by Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) ambassadors, including Indian-origin actor Ayesha Dharker.

The QCEC is described as the world’s oldest international school writing competition, founded in 1883 by the RCS to promote literacy, expression, and creativity among young people throughout the Commonwealth and help nations achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 of “Quality Education”.

“In 2022, we asked children around the Commonwealth to reflect on the inspiring example of the steadfast commitment Queen Elizabeth II gave to our Commonwealth family for over 70 years,” said Dr Linda Yueh, RCS Executive Chair.

“As the Patron of our Society, we were immensely grateful to the late Queen for her unstinting support of our efforts to improve literacy across the Commonwealth. We are deeply honoured that Her Majesty The Queen Consort, like late Queen Elizabeth II, is tireless in her own support for this important competition and its ability to improve the lives and prospects of children around the Commonwealth,” she said.

For this year’s competition, 150 volunteer judges from across the Commonwealth assessed the entries on the theme “Our Commonwealth” and the final judging decision was taken by an expert panel, which included Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry 2014 winner Imtiaz Dharker among other literary figures.

Each year, entrants write on a theme that explores the Commonwealth’s values, fostering an empathetic world view in the next generation of leaders and encouraging young people to consider new perspectives to the challenges that the world faces. In 2022, the RCS said it received a record-breaking 26,322 entries to the QCEC from every Commonwealth region.

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Fourth circuit 2024 essay contest - deadline may 31.

Seventy years ago, the Supreme Court held in Brown v. Board of Education , 347 U.S. 483 (1954), that racial segregation in public schools violates the United States Constitution. The Court recognized that public education is "the very foundation of good citizenship," and Brown's impact on education and society has been the subject of much discussion and debate in our nation's history.

Has the decision in Brown , viewed through the lens of 2024, achieved its purpose of ensuring equal opportunity in public education?

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is seeking submissions for its 2024 essay contest. 

Students are invited to consider and share their thoughts on the question: "Has the decision in Brown , viewed through the lens of 2024, achieved its purpose of ensuring equal opportunity in public education?"

The contest is open to all students currently in grades 6 through 12 from Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Grades 9-12: Essays are limited to 500-1,000 words , and students have the opportunity to win one of three cash prizes:  first place, $2,000; second place, $1,500;  and  third place, $1,000.

Grades 6–8: Essays are limited to 250-500 words , and students have the opportunity to win one of three cash prizes: first place, $500; second place, $350;  and  third place, $200. Deadline: Entry form and essay must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, May 31, 2024 . Winners will be announced in August, and the winning essays will be presented at the Fourth Circuit's Constitution Day Program in September 2024.

For instructions on how to submit your essay and questions to consider, visit www.ca4.uscourts.gov/essay-contest .

For questions about the contest, contact the Fourth Circuit Clerk’s Office at [email protected] or (804) 916-2715.

Please note: Prior award winners as well as children, grandchildren, stepchildren, and members of the household of a federal judge or federal judiciary employee are excluded from the competition.