International Christian University (ICU) and Japan ICU Foundation invite youths from around the world to share their views on how to make society better. Each year, essay topics are selected in the areas of human rights and current events. For 2024, the application is open from August 9 to October 9. Apply to win great prizes, including the top prize of two round-trip tickets to Japan!
Prizes
Top Prize ( 1 winner ): Two round-trip airline tickets to Tokyo in the summer of 2025 for the winner and a guardian. A visit to ICU will be incorporated into the trip. Instead of the airline tickets, the top prize winner has the option of receiving 100,000 yen.
Second Prize ( 1 winner ): 50,000 yen gift card
Third Prize ( 10 winners ): A copy of the “Illustrated Universal Declaration of Human Rights in French, English, and Japanese” translated by ICU students.
Special Prize (1 winner) for those who have not been educated in English for more than 1 year: same as 3rd prize
| Application Open Date: | Friday, August 9, 2024, 0:00 JST |
|---|---|
| Application Close Date: | Wednesday, October 9, 2024, 23:59 JST |
| Announcement of Winners: | Wednesday, December 20, 2024 at 11:00 AM (JST). Results will be announced on the ICU website and by email. |
| Participation fee: | Free |
Way of Application:
All essays must be submitted online through the Submittable platform. The application form will open from August 9 until October 9, 2024.
Click the following to sign up, read the instructions, and apply!
2024 Essay Questions
Essays must focus on one of this year’s topics. Select one of the following questions from the areas of human rights and current events.
- ICU’s mission is to nurture students who will contribute to world peace. Although we say “world” peace, in reality, all issues faced by humanity, local and global, are deeply interconnected, and “peace” may mean different things depending on the situation. Give an example of a global issue affecting your local community, why it interests you, and how you would act to bring peace to that situation.
- Our name, International Christian University, shows our commitment to being “international” and maintaining an open, welcoming campus. We believe in the spirit of Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that “everyone has the right to freely participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.” Are there people around you who do not/ are unable to participate in the cultural life of your community? Why do you think that is and how would you act to ensure that their cultural life is accessible to everyone?
There are no right answers to these questions; we are not looking for essays that propose the “correct” solutions that already exist. We want to learn about YOUR original ideas. As you write, start by reflecting on your own experience, think about what the problem is, and then write your own opinion.
Essays must abide by the ICU Policy on Academic Integrity and ICU’s Perspective on the Use of Generative AI by Students.
Language: Essays must be written in English.
Word Limit: No more than 650 words, excluding essay title and bibliography
Essay Title: Essays must have a title. Please create a title that best describes the essence of your essay. The title does not count towards the word limit.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be aged 14-18 as of October 9, 2024 (inclusive) and must currently reside outside of Japan. University/college students as of October 9, 2024, are ineligible to apply.
How are essays evaluated?
A group of judges from the ICU and the Japan ICU Foundation will evaluate all essays using the following factors:
- Thesis
- Supporting arguments
- Originality
- Execution of writing (Audience/Coherence/Clarity/Grammar/Style)
All essays will be checked for plagiarism as well as AI generator checker.
An essay will be disqualified if:
- It does not address the topic.
- It does not include a title.
- An applicant covers more than one topic.
- It is not the applicant’s original work (including the use of AI).
Please Note
The winners’ full names, essays, titles, school names, and locations will be shared on the Global Youth Essay Competition website. Other information may be displayed upon receiving consent from winners and their guardians.
Past Winners
Visit the website below to read the winners’ essays.
Top Winner of 2022 Visits ICU Result of 2023
Result of 2022 Result of 2021
About the Organizers
International Christian University is a leading private university characterized by its bilingual (Japanese/English) liberal arts education in Tokyo, Japan. From its establishment in 1953, ICU has aimed to educate students in an international setting to be stewards of a just and peaceful world. Visit Website.
ICU Website
The Japan ICU Foundation is an independent educational foundation based in New York City. Its mission is to work with International Christian University to nurture global citizens who contribute to the well-being of humanity. Visit Website.
JICUF Website
Contact
ICU Public Relations Office
TEL: +81-422-33-3058
EMAIL: ICU-Essay@icu.ac.jp
Need help in landing a scholarship? Our comprehensive scholarship assistance includes appraising eligibility criteria to guide applicants correctly and help them avail of scholarships offered by colleges, universities, and government bodies occasionally. Get in touch with our experts and scholarship beneficiaries for insights.
Contact us by mail at;
admin@cvdesignersandco.com or cvdesigners@yahoo.com
Reach out via phone on;
(+237) 676417518 or 658214537
Check our scholarship finder for more scholarships
Do you want to stay current with the job market by being informed about the latest job opportunities? Use this link to join our WhatsApp job group;