You’ve got EUr story to tell? Then join the European Union Essay Writing Contest!

Delegation of the European Union in the Philippines
What’s EUr story? Essay Writing Competition
Mechanics

1. Eligible Participants
This contest is open only to Filipino citizens aged 16 – 35 years old. Employees of the Delegation of the European Union in the Philippines (EU), its affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies and suppliers, (collectively the “Employees”), and family members and/or those living in the same household of Employees until the third degree of consanguinity are not eligible to participate in the Campaign.

2. Categories
The contest is divided into two categories;
a) High School Competition – This category is open to qualified high school students. Entrants must be enrolled at the time of the beginning of the contest period.
b) Collegiate Competition – This category is open to qualified individuals that are currently enrolled in local colleges and universities.
c) Open Competition – This category is open to all entrants that are eligible participants but are no longer enrolled as students. Young professionals and full-time writers are welcome to enter the competition.

3. Format and Theme
All entries should be written in essay format and in English, with a minimum of 700 words and a maximum of 1,000 words for the student categories and a minimum of 1,500 words with a maximum of 2000 words for the professional category.
All entries must written using MS Word, font size 12, font Times New Roman and double-spaced, with 3/4th-inch margins top and bottom and ½ inch margins left and right.
The title should be in font size 16, justified center in boldface and located at the very top of the page and proceeded by the author’s byline in font size 12.
The essay must adhere to the general theme “What’s EU-r story?”.
The essay may say something about the author’s, or someone close to the author’s experience in any of the 28 member states of the European Union* or in any of the Delegation of the European Union’s NGO or civil society organisation partners. The essay may also talk about other experiences or inspiration the author may have had with European influences or European Nationals in their environment or personal lives.

4. Delivery of Entries
Entries may be submitted by e-mail to the following address: whats.eur.story@gmail.com

Entries must be saved in PDF format and included as an attachment to the e-mail. Other required attachments are; a scan of one valid ID. Entries to the Student Competitions should also include a scan of the entrant’s school ID.

The e-mail subject must be written as: What’s EU-r story: Contestant Name_Category

The body of the e-mail should include your full name, age and complete contact details.

5. Judgment Criteria
The entries shall be judged on the basis of the following criteria:
a. substance, content, originality, analysis and adherence to the theme – 65%
b. logic, organisation and coherence – 20%
c. style and presentation – 15%

6. Campaign Period

Entries will be accepted online starting on April 1, 2017, and all entries must be submitted by 30 June 2017 at 23:59 GMT+8.

7. Prizes

One “Grand Winner” will be selected from the winners of the three categories. They will each receive a trophy, gadgets and other promo items from the EU Delegation to the Philippines. “Major Winners” from each category will be chosen, along with ten best works from each category that will be selected as “Finalists”. The works of the Grand Winner, Major Winners and Finalists will be printed in a compendium to be published by the EU as well as posted on Philstar.com.

No cash or other prize substitution shall be permitted. The prize is nontransferable.
It is understood that a participant when submitting his or her entry for the competition that he or she is allowing the EU Delegation to the Philippines to use his or her work for the purpose of promoting the Campaign and entry for purposes of advertising and trade without further compensation unless prohibited by law.

8. Winner Selection and Notification

The Winner and Finalists will be selected by a panel of judges based on the contest’s specified criteria. The Winners and Finalists will be notified by e-mail, facebook and telephone within five (5) working days following the results of the selection process. The Delegation of the European Union in the Philippines shall have no liability for the Winners’ and Finalists’ failure to receive notices due to spam, junk e-mail or other security settings or for Winners’ or Finalists’ provision of incorrect or otherwise non-functioning contact information. If the Winners or Finalists cannot be contacted, is ineligible, and fails to claim the prize within 30 days from the time award notification was sent, or fails to timely return a completed and executed declaration and release as required, the prize may be forfeited and an alternate Winner will be selected.

Further information:

https://www.facebook.com/whatsEUrstory/