Voices of Solidarity
Youth Perspectives on Global Unity
"Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything." - Alexander Hamilton
Since its inception in 2019, the Social Justice Stories (SJS) writing competition has successfully fostered an environment for the development of writing, reading, and critical thinking skills. We provide a platform for young people to challenge dogma and set a precedent for the inclusion of youth voices in important conversations that affect them.
The four volumes published to date have spotlighted nearly 150 young authors, whose pieces boasted refreshing and insightful takes on key societal issues. It is our hope to empower young people to continue the good work of raising awareness and advocacy through their creativity and courage.
The 2025 Edition: A Call to Action
Exploring solidarity in a divided world.
In light of the much-anticipated G20 Summit to be hosted in South Africa, the theme "Voices of Solidarity: Youth Perspectives on Global Unity" invites high school learners to explore global challenges, their impacts, and the role young people can play in finding solutions.
This theme asks us to think about what solidarity and global unity look like. Given the global upheavals of recent years, there is a temptation to become resigned. This theme asks us to consider our role as young people, how we find common ground, and how we can use our voices to inspire collective action. We are looking for entries that realistically depict the hard work and commitment it takes to strive for global unity, while celebrating the diverse, kaleidoscopic feature of youth perspectives.
True solidarity involves advocacy that is accepting, non-discriminatory, and celebratory of differences.
Competition Rules & Workshops
Everything you need to know to participate.
General Rules
- Open to all Grade 8-12 learners in South Africa.
- Submit one entry per person (no group entries).
- Entry can be an essay, short story, or poem.
- Maximum word count: 1000 words. Entries over this limit will not be considered.
- Entries must be in English.
- Students may use AI editing tools BUT no generative AI may be used to write any part of your entry.
- Plagiarism will result in automatic disqualification. Please make an earnest effort to cite sources used.
Preparatory Workshops
These free, optional workshops offer expert advice on interpreting the theme and the skill of writing. You'll get to brainstorm ideas and ask questions!
Submit Your Entry
The competition opens on 16 June 2025. Share your voice with the world!
Submission Deadline:
1 August 2025, 23h50
Please convert your entry to a PDF document named 'Name+Surname'. Do not include your name anywhere inside the document itself. No late submissions will be considered.
Submission Link HereGet In Touch
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Contact for Queries
For submission difficulties or resource challenges, please email us.
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