NEWS
ICU Global Youth Essay Competition 2024 Results/Ceremony
Update: March 24, 2025
International Christian University (ICU) and Japan ICU Foundation are pleased to announce the winners of the ICU Global Youth Essay Competition 2024.
This competition invited youths from around the world to share their views on how to make society better.
We would like to extend our gratitude for all of those who applied. In total, we had 2185 applications from 119 countries and regions.
After careful review, we decided to give prize as follows. Thank you for your patience. We hope that the writing experience you had with our competition becomes an important step for your future and for making your community a better place. Please keep up your good work!
A gathering with winners was held on February 18, 2025.
Top Prize: Inaya Aggarwal (from Bal Bharati Public School, India)
Essay Topic: Contribute to World Peace
Essay Title: "Breaking the Silence: A Journey from Tragedy to Empowerment Through Women's Voices"
The writer will receive two round-trip airline tickets to Tokyo in summer 2025, or 100,000JPY if one is unable to travel, and a book related to the World Declaration of Human Rights translated by ICU students.
Essay title: "Breaking the Silence: A Journey from Tragedy to Empowerment Through Women's Voices"
"You should've dressed differently."
Those words from West Bengal's Chief Minister after the brutal rape and murder of a young doctor in Kolkata in 2024 struck me like a slap in the face. It was a horrifying reminder of how often, in India and beyond, the blame is shifted from the perpetrator to the victim. I couldn't help but think of how this tragedy echoed the infamous 2012 Nirbhaya case, which had once gripped the nation with a promise of change, yet here we were again, back at square one.
The doctor's case was particularly haunting. Found semi-naked in a hospital seminar hall, her body bore the horrifying evidence of brutal assault: 150 grams of semen, deep wounds, and the autopsy revealing unspeakable violence. India, a country that celebrates goddesses like Durga, failed to protect its own women. The protests that erupted in Kolkata, led by doctors demanding safety, highlighted a disturbing truth: this wasn't just about one woman, it was about an entire system that failed to protect its people, particularly its women.
These cases have always resonated with me, not just because I'm a woman, but because they represent a broader issue of human rights, gender inequality, and systemic injustice. I have long been disturbed by the cultural norms and institutional failures that perpetuate violence against women. Every story like this feels like a call to action, demanding more than outrage, it demands change.
But I felt that something was missing. The protests, while powerful, seemed to leave out one crucial element: the voices of women themselves. The media focused on politicians and public outrage, but what about the experiences, fears, and hopes of the women who live in this reality every day? What about the doctors, students, mothers, survivors - those who understand the emotional and physical toll of such violence more than anyone else?
This is when I decided to take action. I realized that we needed to move beyond protests and policies and start amplifying women's voices directly. I decided to launch a podcast, a platform where women could speak freely about their experiences with sexual violence, and more importantly, discuss the changes they believe need to happen. This podcast wouldn't just focus on trauma, it would focus on solutions, on empowerment, and on reclaiming the narrative.
My goal is to bring warmth, humanity, and urgency into a conversation that is often too clinical, too detached. Women from all walks of life, doctors, activists, survivors, will share their stories and insights on the cultural shifts and institutional reforms needed to make society safer. Their voices will cut through the silence, challenging the ingrained misogyny that blames victims instead of perpetrators, and demanding accountability at every level.
This issue is personal to me not only because I am a woman, but because I believe in the transformative power of dialogue. I believe that by sharing these stories, we can create ripples of change that extend far beyond individual cases. As each woman speaks, her voice becomes a protest--a call for justice, for safety, for peace.
What makes this project even more meaningful to me is its connection to the broader pursuit of peace. Sexual violence is not just a local issue, but a global one, cutting across borders and cultures. By amplifying these voices, my podcast aims to contribute to world peace by addressing the violence that undermines it at its core. Peace, to me, means more than the absence of war, it means justice, safety, and equality for all. In this way, my podcast is a small but significant step toward creating a more just and peaceful world, one story at a time.
By amplifying these voices, the podcast aspires to ignite a global dialogue that transforms pain into progress. It is a bold stride towards a future where every woman's story paves the way for justice and enduring peace.
*All rights reserved. No part of this essay may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the writer.
Second Prize: Veronika Sokolnykova (from Trinity Academy, UK)
Essay Topic: Contribute to World Peace
Essay Title: "A journey to peace"
The writer will receive 50,000JPY gift card and a book related to the World Declaration of Human Rights translated by ICU students.
Essay title: "A journey to peace"
On the 24th of February 2022, the first thing my mom said to me in the morning was not "good morning," but the disturbing word - "war."
"Peace is not something you wish for; it is something you make, something you are, something you do, and something you give away."
Those words, once said by Robert Fulghum(*), resonate deeply now. In the days and months that followed, I tried to continue living as I had before the war started, even though I had to leave Ukraine and move to a completely different country--Scotland. Suddenly, I realized that no matter what I do, or who I see, I will never be who I was or how I was two years ago.
When I arrived in Scotland, I expected to feel safe, and I did. However, that safety came with an unexpected sense of isolation. The hardest part hasn't been adjusting to a new country, but rather the slow erosion of my connection to home. I still talk to my family and friends in Ukraine, but each conversation reminds me how different our lives have become. They are living through something I can't fully understand anymore, and I'm here, in a peaceful place, feeling both grateful and guilty. The more time passes, the less I feel I belong to either world. It's as if I'm stuck between two lives - neither fully part of the one I left nor quite part of the one I'm in. Yet, I'm not alone; this feeling is shared by millions of displaced people around the world.
The concept of peace now, for me, is not abstract or theoretical - it is something tangible, deeply personal, and something I long for every day. Peace, in its most profound sense, is about belonging - feeling that you are part of something larger than yourself, that your experiences are understood, and that you have a place where you are needed and valued. When that sense of belonging is shattered, as it is in times of war, the impact goes far beyond the physical destruction of homes and cities - it cuts into the very fabric of one's identity.
When people talk about "world peace", it's easy to imagine a grand solution - an end to wars, treaties signed, and global harmony restored. But I believe that lasting peace can be achieved through more personal approaches, something we have to build in our own lives, day by day. If I had to propose a solution, it would be to create "Digital Memory Archives," an online platform that would allow people to share personal stories, photos, and even videos about their lives before and during the conflict. This digital space would serve as a bridge between the past and the present, helping individuals feel part of a larger community that understands their experiences. Importantly, these archives wouldn't be limited to one country but would serve as a global platform where people from various conflict zones could connect, learn from each other, and feel supported by a global community. These networks would help build a future based on shared responsibility, where everyone - regardless of where they are from - has a role to play in fostering peace.
To conclude my essay, I'd like to quote Dorothy Thompson:
"Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of creative alternatives for responding to conflict--alternatives to passive or aggressive responses, alternatives to violence."The world is full of different kinds of conflicts, but at their core, they all stem from a lack of understanding. In the end, peace isn't something that can be imposed from the outside. It's something we have to create within ourselves; it's a series of steps, both small and large.
(*)ICU made a revision to this essay after fact check. Bibliography
- Dorothy Thompson in Barrett, Christi. "Conflict Aftermath: Working with the Person Who Did You Wrong." Humanergy, n.d., https://humanergy.com/conflict-aftermath-working-with-the-person-who-did-you-wrong/.
- Fulghum, Robert. All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. Ballantine Books, 1988.
*All rights reserved. No part of this essay may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the writer.
Third Prize:
Five winners were named for the third prize. The writers below will receive a book related to the World Declaration of Human Rights translated by ICU students.
Chantilly Ho (from Queenwood, Australia) Contribute to World Peace "Plight of the forgotten age: A Young Person's Vision for Intergenerational Peace"Alcherika Talisay Badal (from Capitol, Philippines) Contribute to World Peace "The Bamboo Bridge to Peace: Healing Tagoloan through Connection and Resilience"
Diya Jena (from Chelmsford County High School for Girls, UK) Cultural Life "Serving our Ancestral Voices"
Aliyan Nadeem (from Beaconhouse Margalla Islamabad, Pakistan) Cultural Life "Songs of the Displaced: Echoes from a Silent Valley"
Rainav Rishnal Ram (from VUNIMOLI ISLAMIA COLLEGE, Fiji) Contribute to World Peace "Nurturing Peace Through Local Action: Addressing Climate Change in Labasa, Fiji"
Special Prize:
There was no candidate for this prize after careful review.
Postponement of the Announcement of the Result
We initially planned to announce the result of the competition on December 20. We apologize for the delay, but it is taking us more time than expected in our selection process with over 2000 essay entries.
We will announce the results on Friday, January 17, 2025 (JST).
International Christian University (ICU) and Japan ICU Foundation invite youths from around the world to share their views on how to make society better. Each year, essay topics are selected in the areas of human rights and current events. For 2024, the application is open from August 9 to October 9. Apply to win great prizes, including the top prize of two round-trip tickets to Japan!
The application for this year has been closed.
Prizes
Top Prize ( 1 winner ): Two round-trip airline tickets to Tokyo in the summer of 2025 for the winner and a guardian. A visit to ICU will be incorporated into the trip. In lieu of the airline tickets, the top prize winner has the option of receiving 100,000 yen.
Second Prize ( 1 winner ): 50,000 yen gift card
Third Prize ( 10 winners ): A copy of the "Illustrated Universal Declaration of Human Rights in French, English, and Japanese" translated by ICU students.
Special Prize (1 winner) for those who have not been educated in English for more than 1 year: same as 3rd prize
| Application Open Date: | Friday, August 9, 2024, 0:00 JST |
|---|---|
| Application Close Date: | Wednesday, October 9, 2024, 23:59 JST |
| Announcement of Winners: | Friday, January 17, 2025 (JST) |
| Participation fee: | Free |
| Certificate: | A certificate will be issued to winners but not to all the participants. |
Way of Application:
All essays must be submitted online through Submittable platform. The application form opens from August 9 until October 9, 2024.
The application for this year has been closed.
2024 Essay questions
Essays must focus on one of this year's topics. Select one of the following questions from the areas of human rights and current events.
- ICU's mission is to nurture students who will contribute to world peace. Although we say "world" peace, in reality all issues faced by humanity, local and global, are deeply interconnected, and "peace" may mean different things depending on the situation. Give an example of a global issue affecting your local community, why it interests you, and how you would act to bring peace to that situation.
- Our name, International Christian University, shows our commitment to being "international" and maintaining an open, welcoming campus. We believe in the spirit of Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that "everyone has the right to freely participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits." Are there people around you who do not/ are unable to participate in the cultural life of your community? Why do you think that is and how would you act to ensure that their cultural life is accessible to everyone?
There are no right answers to these questions; we are not looking for essays that propose the "correct" solutions that already exist. We want to learn about YOUR original ideas. As you write, start by reflecting on your own experience, think about what the problem is, and then write your own opinion.
Essays must abide by the ICU Policy on Academic Integrity and ICU's Perspective on the Use of Generative AI by Students.
Language: Essays must be written in English.
Word Limit: No more than 650 words, excluding essay title and bibliography
Essay Title: Essays must have a title. Please create a title that best describes the essence of your essay. The title does not count towards the word limit.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be aged 14-18 as of October 9, 2024 (inclusive) and must currently reside outside of Japan. University/college students (tertiary education) as of October 9, 2024 are ineligible to apply.
How are essays evaluated?
A group of judges from ICU and the Japan ICU Foundation will evaluate all essays using the following factors:
- Thesis
- Supporting arguments
- Originality
- Execution of writing (Audience/Coherence/Clarity/Grammar/Style)
All essays will be checked for plagiarism as well as AI generators checker.
An essay will be disqualified if:
- It does not address the topic.
- It does not include a title.
- An applicant covers more than one topic.
- It is not the applicant's original work (including the use of AI).
Please Note
The winners' full name, essay, title, school name, and location will be shared on the Global Youth Essay Competition website. Other information may be displayed upon receiving consent from winners and their guardians.
Past Winners
Visit the website below to read the winners' essays.
Top winner of 2022 Visits ICU Result of 2023Result of 2022 Result of 2021
About the Organizers
International Christian University is a leading private university characterized by its bilingual (Japanese/English) liberal arts education in Tokyo, Japan. From its establishment in 1953, ICU has aimed to educate students in an international setting to be stewards of a just and peaceful world. Visit Website.
ICU Website
The Japan ICU Foundation is an independent educational foundation based in New York City. Its mission is to work with International Christian University to nurture global citizens who contribute to the well-being of humanity. Visit Website.
JICUF Website
Contact
ICU Public Relations Office
TEL: +81-422-33-3058
EMAIL: ICU-Essay@icu.ac.jp
FAQs
- How do I submit my essay?
- An essay should be submitted during August 9 - October 9 from the "Apply here" button on this website. The application has been closed for this year.
- I am 18 years old now. Am I eligible to apply?
- If you are 18 years old on October 9, 2024, the deadline for application, you are eligible to apply. Please also note that if you will be attending college/university/higher education by October 9, you are not eligible to apply.
- Should I cite my sources?
- Although this essay competition is not aimed to look at your research skills, you must cite the source of any quotations, ideas, thoughts, or words in your essay that are not your own. This can be done by including in-text citations (which count toward the 650-word limit). Additionally, you may include full citations (which DO NOT count toward the word limit) in the Bibliography text box. MLA and APA styles are recommended. Failure to identify non-original material will result in disqualification.
- May I receive a certificate of participation?
- All the winners will receive a certificate of winning the prize. For other participants, please use the email from Submittable as a substitute for a certificate of participation.
- Do I need a passport to apply for this competition?
- You do not need a passport to apply. It is not too late to apply for a passport after the winners are announced in December 2024. If it is difficult to obtain a passport in time, the top prize winner has the option of receiving 100,000 yen.
- Can I use a translator?
- No. We cannot accept an essay that is translated as a whole because it will not be your original work. On the other hand, we have a special prize for those who are not educated in English for more than a year. Please use this opportunity to brush up your English writing.
- My high school includes "college" in its name. Can I apply?
- Yes. If your school is designated as secondary education in your country, you are eligible. The name of your school does not matter in this case. Only those who are enrolled in tertiary education or post-secondary education as of October 9, 2024 are ineligible.
- Will the expenses of our stay be covered like hotel, food, and transportation?
- We offer two roundtrip airline tickets for you and a guarantor, visa applications (if you need), and arrange a visit to our campus (usually on our summer Open Campus Day). Other days are free time. Basically, the winner needs to cover insurance fee, hotel, food, and transportation fees. Details will be decided after a meeting with the winner. In case it is difficult to travel, the winner has the option of receiving 100,000 yen. Read the news about the past winner visiting ICU.