About Mandela Day

 

The United Nations launched Nelson Mandela Day unanimously in 2009 in order to honor his legacy and life’s work. On this day, and in the months leading up to it, we urge you to take up Mandela’s mantle and inspire positive change in your local community. Each individual has the ability and responsibility to change the world. On July 18th, we are reminded of that potential as we honor Mandela’s efforts.

 

 

Why should youth participate?

 

As Mandela said in his 2008 speech: “it is in your hands now.” Mandela passed away two years ago in Johannesburg, South Africa. Now it is up to the current generation to carry out his legacy and be a catalyst for change and justice in the world. We hope that, in participating in this Mandela Day Multimedia Competition, you will be able to express how you interpret Mandela’s legacy of equality, justice, and freedom, and in turn, your works will inspire others as well.

 

 

Who can participate?

 

Youths ages 13-17 in the DC Metro/Greater Frederick area are eligible to participate in this event. This includes students in:

• Anne Arundel County

• Arlington County

• Carrol County

• Fairfax County

• Frederick County (MD)

• Frederick County (VA)

• Howard County

• Loudon County

• Montgomery County

• Prince George's County

• Washington County

• Washington D.C.

 

 

Contest Deadline

 

The deadline to submit is June 22, 2015.

 

How to submit your work:

1. Fill out the submission form and review the terms and conditions of the contest

2. Send both form and entry as attachments in an email to mandeladay@unescousa.org 

Please write: (First name, last name)Nelson Mandela Multimedia Competition 2015 in the subject line of the email before sending it. However, if you're creating a submission with traditional media, take pictures of it to attach in an email.

 

 

Do you accept group submissions?

 

Unfortunately, we do not.

 

 

Submission Guidelines:

 

• Your entry must be original

• Your entry must somehow relate to Nelson Mandela and/or the themes of social justice, equality, freedom, liberty, or serving others

• If you are submitting an essay please make sure that: 

  • the essay is in 12 pt font

  • double-spaced 

  • 1 inch margins on all sides

  • and is 750-1250 words in length

• videos and music should be no longer than 5 minutes

• For all other art (digital, traditional, photography, etc) tell us in 100 words about your entry, the medium used, the title, your age, and where you are from (on the submission form).

• 1 entry per person.

 

 

How is the contest judged:

 

Each entry will be judged based on the following criteria, on a sliding scale of 1-5, with 1 indicating needs improvement, and 5 indicating exceptional:

• Relevance

• Creativity

• Originality

• Development

• Audience

• Cohesion

 

 

Contest Winners:

 

Will be announced on July 6th, 2015 and will be published on the UNESCO website. The First Place winners will receive a 100% Scholarship to attend the 2016 International Model UN (IMUN) Summer Camp hosted at Hood College in Frederick, MD. Second and Third place winners will receive a 50% scholarship 2016 International Model UN (IMUN) Summer Camp Winners will also be invited to the Freedom Gala on July 18th for Nelson Mandela Day, where their works will be displayed and they will be formally acknowledged for their achievements. Prizes will be given to the winners during the Gala

 

 

Have a Question?

 

We are happy to answer any of your questions at mandeladay@unescousa.org.  Please put in the subject line: YOUTH CONTEST QUESTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terms and Conditions

1. Eligability

Youth ages 13-17 are eligible. In order to enter the Competition, you agree to these Official Rules. The Rules consist of the terms and conditions on this page and the Entry Form.

 

2. Competition Period

The Competition begins April 16th, 2015 and ends at midnight (GMT) on June 22nd, 2015.

 

3. How to Enter

Entrants will click on the link on the official UNESCOUSA.org website. Fill out the submission form and email your submission to MandelaDay@UnescoUSA.org

 

4. Submission Guidelines

• The work has to be relevant to the question.

• Your work must be original

• All participants need to fill out the Submission Form.

• Please make sure your essay satisfies the following formatting criteria:

  • 12 point Times New Roman

  • Double-spaced

  • 1 inch margins all around

  • 750 - 1000 words

• Videos should be 3 minutes maximum.

• Images of 3 dimensional work will be accepted

•  For art, sculpture and photography, tell us in 100 words about your work, the title, the medium, your age and where you’re from (Use the Submission form)

• 1 entry per person

 

5. Judging and Selection of Winners

Judging will be done online in two parts. The first part will consist of each judge having their own page to judge a random selected number of submissions. With the top number being selected by highest score, the judges will go through the top 20 vote on their top 3. When all votes have been submitted, the top highest scores will be selected for the top 3. Entries will be scored on a sliding scale 1-5 with 1 indicating needs improvement to 5 indicating exceptional. Based on the criteria of, relevance, creativity and originality, development, audience and cohesion.

 

6. Prizes

Will be announced on July 6th, 2015 and will be published on the UNESCO website. The First Place winners will receive a 100% Scholarship to attend the 2016 International Model UN (IMUN) Summer Camp hosted at Hood College in Frederick, MD. Second and Third place winners will receive a 50% scholarship 2016 International Model UN (IMUN) Summer Camp Winners will also be invited to the Freedom Gala on July 18th for Nelson Mandela Day, where their works will be displayed and they will be formally acknowledged for their achievements. Prizes will be given to the winners during the Gala

 

7. Privacy Notice:

Any personal data, collected during the course of the competition will only be used and disclosed for purposes reasonably connected with administering and promoting this competition, including certain internal and external communications related to the essay contest. We may also share personal data of the overall winner and the finalists with the press for publicity purposes. Subject to parental consent (if required), the overall winner and the finalists may be required to participate in the summer camps, in publicity such as press interviews or other promotion.

 

8. No Recourse to judicial or other procedures:

To the extent permitted by law, the rights to litigate, to seek injunctive relief or to any other recourse to judicial or any other procedure in case of disputes or claims resulting from or in connection with this Competition are hereby excluded, and you acknowledge and agree, and expressly waive any and all such rights.