What does it take to make your voice heard in an election year? In a world where social media, misinformation, and representation can shape outcomes, young people have a unique power and a responsibility to contribute to the integrity of elections, the development of democracy and enriching their civic participation.
The essay writing competition as part of the Youth and Elections in Africa Dialogue Series is an opportunity for you to reflect, delve deeper, bringing fresh insights and perspectives on the real issues surrounding African elections in 2024 and beyond. It aims to encourage critical thinking and empower young voices to share perspectives on the role of social media, combating misinformation, and promoting female representation in elections.
Eligibility Criteria
Below are the detailed guidelines for participants to follow when crafting their essays.
1. Competition Details
- Age: Participants must be adults between 18 and 30 years old.
- Geography: Open to young people residing in African countries.
- Language: English and Swahili
2. Competition focus/ themes
Participants are required to choose from one of the following themes, and be creative with the title and content of their Essays:
- Internet Culture in Shaping Digital Social Halls for Youth Engagement in Elections in Africa
- Discuss African governments’ readiness to promote online space tools for civic discourse and public participation in Africa.
- Discuss challenges on all forms of content governance and moderation and surveillance in digital social halls and how to address these in an ever-changing digital world.
- Social Media in Shaping Youth Engagement in Elections
- Discuss how platforms like Instagram, X, and TikTok are influencing youth voter turnout, youth leadership and political advocacy.
- Combating Mis/Disinformation
- Explore the impact of misinformation on elections and propose strategies young people can employ to combat fake news and deep fakes.
- On Intersectional Representation in African Elections
- Analyze the current state of female representation in African politics, discuss the barriers women face in the electoral process, with recommendations.
Offered Benefits
The first three winners of the essay competition will receive the following:
- Cash prize (1st – $300, 2nd – $200, 3rd – $100)
- Certificate of Recognition
- Publication of essays on Pollicy’s Medium with credit given to the author.
This essay writing competition is a unique opportunity for young people to contribute to the ongoing dialogue about Africa’s elections. We encourage participants to be bold, creative, and insightful in their writing. We look forward to reading your submissions and amplifying youth voices across Africa.
