The St. Louis Coalition for Human Rights will hold its 19th annual Human Rights Contest, but with a different twist. In addition to an essay, this year students can submit a poem, song or spoken word on the theme “Does Your School and Community Provide Freedom from Discrimination?”
The contest is open to middle and high school students in the bi-state area. The contest deadline is October 31.
The goal of the contest is to connect contemporary issues with articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The focus is on Articles #2 and #7 and will help to explore issues of discrimination that youth face at school and in their neighborhoods, from homophobia to racial profiling.
Cash prizes are awarded to the top three essay winners in the high school and middle-school categories. In the middle school division, 1st Prize is $100, 2nd Prize is $50 and 3rd Prize is $25; the high school division is $150 for 1st Prize, $100 for 2nd Prize and $50 for 3rd Prize.
First prize winners are required to read their winning essays at the Human Rights Celebration hosted by the Missouri History Museum on December 10.
Essay entries must be no more than 500 words and preferably typed. The essay can be mailed to the St. Louis Coalition for Human Rights, P. O. Box 5277, St. Louis, MO 63115 or emailed to stlc4hr@yahoo.com. Please include a cover page that gives full name, address, phone number, grade and school of student.
The contest deadline is October 31. For more information on the essay contest, such as eligibility and guiding questions, visit www.positiveyouthdev.com.