Wanted: your practical ideas!

Today is your world! You’re making a difference.You’re working to solve community problems, such aslack of access to education or jobs, the spread ofHIV/AIDS or conflict. Yet, the impact of your workdoes not always receive enoughexposure and recognition. Participate now and haveyour voice heard! The World Bank and its partnersinvite you to participate in the International EssayCompetition 2006 to share your experience and ideas oncommunity work and participation in public life.

Choose one of the two topics:
Topic 1: How do you contribute to solving communityproblems?

You’re making an impact - or you have ideas - onworking with your peers on important projects, suchas: improving education, resolving conflict, limitingthe spread of HIV/AIDS, or promoting youth employment.

1) If you have been personally involved in communitywork, write specifically about your experience:Who have you worked with? Who have you helped? Whathave you accomplished? In what way would you considerthis work to be innovative? How have you measured theresults of your work?

Looking ahead:
How would you improve your impact? How can other youthreplicate your experience?

2) If you don’t have practical experience, writespecifically about your ideas:How would you work with your peers to solve communityproblems?

Topic 2: How do you influence decision making?
You’ve helped influence - or you have ideas oninfluencing - decisions on important issues thataffect your community:
1) If you have been personally involved in advocacywork, write specifically about your experience:What have you accomplished? How did you convincedecision makers to listen to you? What obstacles haveyou overcome? How have you measured the results ofyour work?

Looking ahead:
How would you improve your advocacy? How can otheryouth adapt your ideas to become more involved indecision-making?

2) If you don’t have practical experience, writespecifically about your ideas:How could youth better influence decision-making?

For more info on International Essay Competition 2006, please visit:
http://www.essaycompetition.org