UN Competitions
The United Nations wants to get ordinary citizens to showcase their creativity by getting involved in fun and exciting challenges. Competitions about various themes are frequently organized throughout the year, from crystal growing to short films on healthy nutrition to political cartoon drawing contests. Each challenge raises awareness about a particular topic and brings creativity to real-world situations. Most challenges require no entry fee, and with monetary prizes of up to $10,000 awarded, this is definitely something to check out! Check periodically to see what competitions are currently being offered.
How do I get started? Click here.
How do I expand this narrative arc? Think of ways to adapt your schoolwork to competitions. Alternatively, enlist a teacher mentor to help guide you through a competition.
For writers: Submit your work to more online publications, like The Maze, Elan Literary Magazine, Hanging Loose Press and more. Or enter one of the many youth competitions sponsored by The New York Times.
For scientists: Enter an international biomimicry competition for middle and high school students. Or Send a science experiment to the International Space Station with Cubes in Space and Dream Up.
For math whizzes: Enter one of the math national and international math competitions including Purple Comet!, the American Mathematics Competitions, Who Wants to be a Mathematician or the Harvard-MIT Math Tournament.
HOT TIP: This is a great way for you to showcase and be acknowledged for something that you’re already doing - at school or at home. Many kids sit down to fill out college applications and have nothing to say in the awards section. Look at the website and see if there’s anything that peaks you interest. This could be a really nice compliment to an existing narrative arc.