2026 International Essay Contest: 30 Days. $100. Your Move.

📢 International Contest Announcement 📢

Calling all students with a passion for creating positive change in their communities and beyond! We are excited to announce our essay contest, organized by Global Emerging Leaders, aimed at fostering critical thinking and inspiring young minds to tackle important social issues.

Contest Theme: Addressing Social Issues with Limited Resources

💰 30 Days. $100. Your Move. ⏳

Today’s world doesn’t just need people who care—it needs people who act, even when they don’t have much to work with. Leadership isn’t measured by how big your platform is or how much money you have. It’s measured by your ability to notice what others overlook, to ask “Why is it like this?”, and to take the first step toward making it better.

That’s what this contest is about: Addressing Social Issues with Limited Resources. Social issues aren’t only the massive problems we see in headlines. They can be local, quiet, and easy to ignore—until someone decides they’re worth fixing. Maybe it’s a safety concern on your street. A lonely group at school. Food waste in your cafeteria. A barrier that keeps people from participating, belonging, or being heard. These aren’t “small” just because they’re familiar. They matter because they affect real lives, every day.

And here’s the twist: you don’t get unlimited time, funding, or a team of experts.

You get 30 days. And $100.

In a world where we’re used to thinking solutions require giant budgets, this challenge flips the script. Limited resources don’t mean limited impact—they force creativity. They sharpen your priorities. They push you to design solutions that are practical, thoughtful, and achievable. Sometimes, the most powerful changes start as modest experiments: a well-placed system, a smarter routine, a small tool that makes life easier, a campaign that shifts how people think, or a service that helps one group feel seen.

This contest isn’t just about writing an essay. It’s about proving that you can be a problem-solver right now—where you are, with what you have. It’s about practicing critical thinking, building empathy through real observation, and turning ideas into action. Your words can do more than describe a problem—they can show a plan, a process, and a mindset that inspires others to try, too.

So look closely at your community. Find the moment that makes you pause—the thing that feels unfair, inefficient, unsafe, isolating, wasteful, or simply “not the way it should be.” Then ask yourself:

If you had $100 and one month, what would you change—and how would you make it real?

⭐️ Contest Details ⭐️

The GEL’s International Essay Contest invites students to write an original and compelling essay that explores how to address a social issue with limited resources—specifically, $100 and 30 days. In your essay, we want you to focus on a social issue you have experienced or noticed in your community and explain how you would create meaningful change even with clear constraints. We believe that understanding the issue, identifying its root causes, and designing a realistic, well-planned response are essential steps toward lasting impact. Reflecting on your personal experiences and values, how can you—either as an individual or as part of a group—take initiative and make a difference when time and funding are limited?

Be sure to include the following in your essay:

1️⃣ Describe the issue and its current state and why it matters to you (what’s happening and why you care): Introduce the social issue you’ve chosen and explain what it currently looks like in your community. Who is affected, and how? Why should others care? Instead of broad oversimplifying descriptions of the problem, try to SHOW the issue through your eyes. Explain why you chose this issue. What have you seen, experienced, or learned that made it feel important? Share the moment you noticed it or the reason you couldn’t ignore it. Your connection can come from personal experiences, values, beliefs, conversations, or observations that shaped how you understand the problem.

2️⃣ Your $100 / 30-day action plan (a realistic solution with details):

This is where your creativity and practicality come together. Propose a solution you could realistically carry out with $100 and one month. Your plan should be specific: what exactly will you do, when will you do it, who will you involve, and how will you use the $100? While you may include up to three ideas, stronger essays usually focus on one core plan and develop it in detail. Think about feasibility—small actions done well can create real change. Your solution can include actions such as raising awareness, organizing a small event, creating educational materials, building a simple tool or resource, partnering with a local group, collecting donations, starting a peer initiative, advocating for a change, or designing a campaign that shifts habits.

3️⃣ Measuring impact and reflecting on limitations (how you’ll know it worked):

Explain how you would evaluate whether your solution made a difference within 30 days. What outcomes would you track—participation, behavioral change, community feedback, items collected, volunteers recruited, or another measurable result? Also reflect briefly on challenges you may face (time, participation, visibility, community resistance) and how you would adapt.

There is no single right way to create change. In fact, some of the most meaningful solutions begin with small, well-executed steps—especially when resources are limited. We are looking for thoughtful problem-solvers who can combine empathy with action, and vision with feasibility. Your unique perspective matters. Share your voice, share your plan, and show us how you would turn $100 and 30 days into real impact—starting right where you are.

To participate in the contest, please follow these guidelines:

1. Eligibility: The contest is open to all high school students around the world.

2. Essay Format: Failure to meet the requirements below will result in disqualification.

   1. Word limit: maximum 500 words

   2. Font: 12 point; Times New Roman

   3. 1 inch margins

   4. Single spaced

   5. Word Doc or Docx File

3. Original Work: Essays must be the original work of the student.

   All essays will go through AI detection (via Scribbr). Essays with AI scores of 30% or higher will NOT be graded and will immediately be disqualified.

4. Submission: Click on the "Apply Here" button towards the bottom of the page and submit your form.

5. Deadline: Submissions must be received no later than April 3rd, 2026 11:59pm (U.S. Pacific Time). Late submissions will not be considered.

🏆 Evaluation Criteria 🏆

Our panel of esteemed judges will carefully assess each essay to select the winners of this contest. To ensure a fair and thorough evaluation, the following criteria will be considered:

1. Originality and Creativity: We value fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that demonstrate original thinking. Show us your unique approach to the social issue and how your proposed solution will be impactful.

2. Depth of Analysis: Dig deep into the state of the chosen social issue. Use relevant evidence, data, and examples to support your insights, showcasing a comprehensive understanding of the problem.

3. Personal Connection: Demonstrate a genuine connection to the issue you've chosen. Share your personal experiences, emotions, or encounters that have influenced your decision to address this particular social problem.

4. Feasibility of Solutions: Consider the practicality and viability of your proposed solutions. How realistic are your ideas? Show us that you've thought through the potential challenges and how you can overcome them.

5. Writing Style and Expression: Showcase your writing skills and ability to convey ideas effectively. Engaging and compelling prose will leave a lasting impression on the judges. Clearly present your thoughts and arguments in a well-structured manner.

The judges will meticulously evaluate each essay based on these criteria, and the winners will be selected based on the merit of their submissions.

🏆 Contest Prizes 🏆

The top three winners of this contest will be announced and listed on our website to celebrate their accomplishments. Winners will also be notified by email. A Certificate of Achievement will be given to the winners.

Additionally, we will also award honorary mentions to participants who demonstrate exceptional creativity, insight, and potential impact.

📅 Important Dates and Submission Guidelines 📅

Essay submission opens: February 9th, 2026 (U.S. Pacific Time)

Essay submission deadline: April 3rd, 2026 11:59pm (U.S. Pacific Time)

Winners announcement: April 17th, 2026 (U.S. Pacific Time)

We eagerly await your insightful essays and innovative solutions to address the social issues that matter most to you! Your ideas have the power to create meaningful change and inspire others to take action. Best of luck to all the participants!

For any further inquiries or clarification, please feel free to contact us at info.gelnpo@gmail.com

Together, let's ignite a wave of positive transformation in society!