Celebrate World Water Day!

Celebrate with Global Classroom by participating in our 17th annual World Citizen Essay Contest and World Citizen Ceremony in May.

Step One:
Volunteer as a judge for our 17th Annual World Citizen Essay Contest—or submit your World Citizen Essays today (for 3rd through 12th grade students only)

The goal of the World Citizen Essay Contest is to promote discussion among students, teachers, families, and community members about the ways that individuals can effect positive change in the global community. This year, the World Affairs Council is partnering with Water1st International; our prompt asks students to think critically and be engaged as global citizens by addressing one of the most critical issues of our time: The Worldwide Water Crisis.

The prompt: You have successfully applied for a large grant from the Gates Foundation to address a pressing global water issue. What is the main issue that you will address with the grant and why?

• Judges dedicate 1-2 hours of their time during the first 2 weeks of April to read and score 10 essays from students in the 3rd through 12th grade.

• To volunteer as a judge, complete this Judge Contact Form, and submit it to essaycontest@world-affairs.org by Monday, March 28th.

Step Two:
Attend our World Citizen Awards Ceremony on May 5th from 7:00PM – 8:30PM

Our World Citizen Awards Ceremony will celebrate the nine student winners of Global Classroom’s World Citizen Essay Contest, as well as our World Educator, Pat Grant. This year’s theme is The Future of Water Worldwide.

• The program will feature The World Affairs Council of Seattle’s World Citizen of 2015/2016 Marla Smith-Nilson. Marla is the founder and CEO of Water1st International, a Seattle-based nonprofit that works to provide lasting, comprehensive solutions to water crises worldwide. Water1st works in Ethiopia, Honduras, Bangladesh, and India.

• Our keynote speaker is Jeff Raikes. Jeff is the former CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the co-founder of the Raikes Foundation, and the Board Chair of the Water for Food Institute. Water for Food works to improve efficient water management and increase global food supply to meet the needs of an expected world population of 10 billion by 2050.

• For more information about our World Citizen Awards Ceremony, and to RSVP, contact Maggie Archbold at marchbold@world-affairs.org.

Step Three:
On Sunday, May 15th, join Water1st International and Walk for Water

Walk to experience what 1 billion people do every single day. Rally your family & friends – from your school, workplace, scout troop, sports team, place of worship – to walk with you. Carry water for 5 kilometers to support communities that need clean water.

• Every $75 you raise provides a child with clean water and a toilet FOR LIFE. If you or your team raise $5,000 or more, you can have a personalized plaque at a community water project.

• For more information, contact Jen Norling at 206.297.3024 or JenniferNorling@water1st.org.