Creators of Justice Literary Awards: International Writing Contest for School Students
About the Competition
The Creators of Justice Literary Awards is an annual, international writing contest that celebrates the values of beauty, sincerity, vulnerability, diversity, and engagement. The competition is open to school students, including pre-school, junior school, middle school, and senior school students. It provides an opportunity for young writers to showcase their talent and express their thoughts on human rights and social justice.
Submission Window and Announcement
The submission window for the contest is open from June 1 to September 30. The winners of the competition are announced by November 15, offering participants a chance to gain recognition for their literary works.
Entry Details
- No entry fee is required to participate in the contest.
- Writers can submit one poem, one essay (up to 2500 words), and/or one short story (up to 2500 words).
- Include your name, country of residence, and a brief biography when submitting your work.
- There is a separate youth category for writers who are 18 years old and under.
Submission Guidelines
To submit your work, send it to hello@ihraf.org with the subject line: "Creators of Justice Literary Award" and indicate the submission type (i.e., "Poetry," "Short Story," or "Essay"). Ensure that your work aligns with the competition's values and avoids anger or "us v. them" mentality.
Prizes and Recognition
There are three monetary prizes in each category: Poetry, Short Story, and Essay. The awards for each category are as follows:
- First Prize: $150
- Second Prize: $100
- Third Prize: $50
Additionally, up to five writers in each category receive Honorable Mentions, and their work is published.
Previous Year's Results (2022)
In 2022, the IHRAF Publishes Creators of Justice Awards received over 228 submissions from 53 countries and 29 U.S. states. The winners in each category were as follows:
Essay
- First Prize: Stamatis Vassilaros (Greece) - "The Metro"
- Second Prize: Anissa Ljanta (Aotearoa/New Zealand) - "The Way Forward"
- Third Prize: Elizabeth Bird (UK/Florida, USA) - "Stories from the Forgotten War"
Short Story
- First Prize: Gitanjali Murari (India) - "Even the Worm Will Turn"
- Second Prize: Dean Gessie (Canada) - "Transitioning"
- Third Prize: Osieka Osinimu Alao (Nigeria) - "We Shall All Rise in Flames"
Poetry
- First Prize: Kristin W. Davis (Washington DC, USA) - "Growing Up Over Stone"
- Second Prize: Joshua Effiong (Nigeria) - "Autobiography"
- Third Prize: Chidiebere Udeokechukwu (Nigeria) - "Lollipop's Conversation with a Priest"
Youth Category
- Kashvi Ramani (Virginia, USA) - "My Dodda in a Day"
- Daniel Son (South Korea) - "Pink Sunglasses"
- Chiu-yi Rachel Ngai (Hong Kong, China) - "I, Prison Diary"
For more information, including the full texts of the winning submissions from 2022, please visit the IHRAF website.
Participate in the Creators of Justice Literary Awards, an international writing contest that offers school students free publication opportunities. Submit your original poetry, essays, or short stories by September 30 and stand a chance to win cash prizes. Join the celebration of beauty, sincerity, vulnerability, diversity, and engagement in expressing your thoughts on human rights and social justice. Don't miss this exciting chance to share your literary talent with the world!
