Annual GYV Essay Contest

We are now accepting submissions for the annual GYV essay contest!  Entrants are invited to answer one of the four following questions:

1. What do you think are the the most pressing barriers to the U.N. Millennium Development Goals and why? How can some of those barriers be lifted? (For a list of the goals, please visit: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/).

2. How do you personally define peace? What do you feel are three of the best ways to create peace in this world?

3. It’s the year 2050. Describe what our world will be like and what kind of qualities a future hero would need to possess.

4. Bullying is a now recognized as a serious problem, especially in the United States. Is bullying going on in your school or neighborhood? Describe the steps you would personally take to mitigate the issue.

Contest Rules

All essays must comply with the following contest rules before submission:

• No literary form other than an essay will be accepted.
• Each essay must reflect the contestant’s own research, writing and original thinking.
• Only one (1) essay may be submitted by each contestant.
• Essays must be typed.
• Essays must be a minimum of 800 words.
• Send a copy of the essay to:
  

  Global Youth Village
  Att: Innocentia Afa
  1020 Legacy Drive, Bedford, VA 24523

• If you wish to send the essay by e-mail, contact Innocentia Afa at iafa@legacyintl.org.
• Entries must be postmarked on or before contest due date which is April 20, 2011.
  

Essays will be judged on the following 4 categories: comprehension, organization,  creativity and writing (spelling, punctuation grammar etc). The winner will receive a $1,200 scholarship to the Peace Building program, July 5-16.

Good luck!

IWD-Women’s Day- March 8

Women: They are half of the world’s population, make up 42% of global internet users and control $14 trillion in assets. They also do two-thirds of the world’s work yet receive only 10% of the income. They are disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS. In many parts of the world, they lack basic economic, social, cultural, and political rights.

This Sunday, March 8th is International Womens Day (IWD). It is an international celebration marking the achievements of women and their importance to our future.

The IWD website posts:

“IWD is now an official holiday in China, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother’s Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.

The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women’s and society’s thoughts about women’s equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that ‘all the battles have been won for women’ while many feminists from the 1970′s know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women’s visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women’s education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.

However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And so the tone and nature of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives.

Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women’s craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.”

Visit the International Womens Day (IWD) website to find an event in your community. Better yet, volunteer with an organization that supports women and girls. Keep up to date on issues affecting women around the globe and inform others. Post links to news stories on your Facebook or MySpace page, etc. Contact your government representatives to voice your opinions and learn more about legislation that affects women and girls. Finally, as authored on the IWD site, “Make every day International Women’s Day. Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.”

Statistics from IWD website: www.internationalwomensday.com.