An International Essay Competition for High School Students Globally/ And Perhaps some Others Brainstorm and Organise a Similar Art Competition Globally

“There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns.”

Edward De Bono

I came up with this idea as it’s the next generation who needs to come up with the solutions for the pressing problems facing humanity and their future generations.

Perhaps the international language teachers globally could get their high school students to write a 1500-word essay on the following topics in any language:

  1. Global Peace

“It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.” 

Eleanor Roosevelt

2. Overcoming Racism

“Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.”

Mahatma Ghandi, 1925

3. How to Reduce the Greenhouse effect

“The basic science is very well established; it is well understood that global warming is due to greenhouse gases. What is uncertain is projections about specifics in the next few decades, by how much will the climate change.”

 Mario J. Molina

I’ve provided quotes I pulled off the Internet to stimulate ideas for each topic.

In the developed world perhaps made on computers so students can use YouTube videos and images to support their essay ideas and it’s easier to pull quotes off the Internet.

Eleanor Roosevelt

In the developing world on paper with pencils and pens with colour drawings. Perhaps we need to brainstorm how to get those materials to them and how to collect them.

The teachers ideally would explain a little about how to write an essay ie an introduction, body and conclusion. Also acknowledging sources and footnotes and visual aids.

In conclusion perhaps others could figure out what the prizes should be perhaps getting the opportunity to meet someone influential in the world. As I said in the title perhaps artists or art teachers or both could figure out a similar competition for visual arts under these issues or other pressing issues of their choice.

Mahatma Gandhi