Concern Worldwide is urging Ballymena students to enter Global Creative Writing Competition

CONCERN Worldwide is encouraging students from local schools in the Ballymena area to enter its annual Creative Writing Competition.

Budding writers aged from 13 years and upwards are been invited to submit a 1,000 word chapter based on the title “2050 State of the Developing World Report”.

Now in its fifth year, the competition has in past years drawn 2,700 contestants from 37 countries. Previous themes included a letter petitioning US President Barack Obama to take action on hunger, climate change or child labor, and an address to a UN plenary session on the UN Millennium Development Goals.

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The Concern writing competition invites writers to look to the year 2050 when the world’s population surpasses 10 billion people and comment on the state of the developing world. Winning essays and selected entries will be published in the Concern Creative Writing Competition book 2012, and featured on Concern’s website and blog.

Claire Fitzsimmons, Fundraiser from Concern Worldwide, tells potential writers, “The Concern Creative Writing Competition provides an opportunity for you to let us know your thoughts on a wide range of development issues. No one can tell your unique story but you, and you will be amazed at how your voice can not only change your future, but will inspire other people, to change our world for the better.”

Secondary school students and adults can enter in the following categories: 13-15 years-old (junior); 16-18 years-old (senior); full or part-time student in college; age 19-plus and not in college. Prizes in each age category include a Netbook computer, an e-reader and an MP3 player. To enter, candidates should visit www.concern.net/writingcompetition . Entries must be received online by May 7.

Concern works in 25 of the world’s poorest countries, and reaches some 25 million people. The organisation’s goal is the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty and the reduction of suffering. Concern’s programmes focus on emergency relief and long-term development work in the areas of health, HIV and AIDS, livelihoods and education.