International essay-writing competition for youth – 2026

Have you seen something unfair in your community and felt the need to challenge and change it?

It could be something personal or something you saw happening to someone else. It may be subtle, everyday exclusion or something more visible and urgent.

From being treated differently because of your geography, religion, caste, class, gender, or identity; to noticing silence around injustice in your school, neighbourhood, workplace, or society at large; to taking small (or big) steps to speak up, support others, or spark change.

We want to hear your story.

The Secularist invites young people aged between 15 and 24 years from across the world to reflect on their grassroots challenges and lived realities related to:

• Secularism
• Human Rights
• Social Equality and Justice
• Gender and Marginalisation
• Conflict, Migration, and Displacement
• Climate and Communities

Your submission should be grounded in real experiences, communities, or observations. We are particularly interested in stories that highlight:

• Every day struggles or resistance
• Lived realities and grassroots issues
• Marginalised voices from a given society
• Local movements and change-makers
• Personal reflections tied to larger social issues, nationally or internationally

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

1. We welcome written submissions in the form of essays, personal narratives, reportage-style writing, or opinion pieces
2. The article must be between 800 and 1500 words, written in the English language.
3. Please provide images where possible.
4. The article must be original and previously unpublished.
5. We accept the article in .doc, and .docx formats
6. Send your entry via email to: ritum@the-secularist.com / suchetc@the-secularist.com 
7. Email subject: International Essay-writing Competition 2026 – [Your First and Last Name]
8. In the email, please include:
   • Full Name
   • Age
   • Country
   • Contact details
   • Title of your submission
9. Deadline: 15th of May 2026
10. The winners would be announced on our website and social media on 31st of May 2026 (Sunday) and would be contacted further to claim the prize money.

Important Notes

1. We allow only one submission per participant. In case of multiple entries, only the latest one would be considered.
2. Any kind of plagiarism will lead to disqualification

Prize money

1. Winner: $100
2. 1st runner-up: $75
3. 2nd runner-up: $50

The winning entries will be published by The Secularist website, with credits.