Advancing Youth Global Engagement | 2024 World Citizen Essay Contest
March 24th, 2024
In September 2024, the United Nations (UN) will host “The Summit of the Future, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance cooperation on critical challenges and address gaps in global governance, reaffirm existing commitments including to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the United Nations Charter…to positively impact people’s lives. Building on the SDG Summit in 2023, Member States will consider ways to lay the foundations for more effective global cooperation that can deal with today’s challenges as well as new [challenges] in the future.”
2024 World Citizen Essay Contest Prompt:
This year’s prompt centers the UN’s meaningful inclusion of youth participation as a foundation for safeguarding the future. If you had the opportunity to present at the Summit of the Future, WHAT global issue do you feel is the most important to address for your generation and WHY? WHERE is this issue having a significant impact? WHAT would be your action-oriented plan to resolve this issue? HOW could world leaders support this plan?
2024 World Citizen Essay Contest Winners:
| Grades 3-5 | Grades 6-8 | Grades 9-12 | |
|
First Place |
Jane Kroger
McDonald International School |
Evan Camp
Narrows View Intermediate School |
Kristen O'Shea
Glacier Peak High School "Domestic Workers: The Backbone and Modern Day Slave of the United States" |
|
Second Place |
Clara Smitherman
Bryant Elementary School |
John Marley
Charles Wright Academy |
Ajay Sheena Glacier Peak High School "Disillusionment: The Working-Class and the Spread of Authoritarianism in the West" |
|
Third Place |
Gavin Hamilton
Bryant Elementary School
|
Guille Babajanova
Summit Trail Middle School |
Makenzie Powers Glacier Peak High School |
2024 World Citizen Essay Contest Prizes:
First Place | This year's first place prize was sponsored by FRS Clipper! Each winner was awarded a gift certificate for an international but accessible Day Trip from Seattle to Victoria, B.C. on the Clipper for two!
Second Place | This year's second place prize was sponsored by the Seattle Storm! Each winner was awarded a voucher for themselves and three friends/family to attend a Seattle Storm home game of their choosing!
Third Place | This year's third place prize was sponsored by Seattle's Tall Ship! Each winner was awarded a voucher for themselves and one friend/family member to embark on a Sunset Cruise or cruise of their choosing!