GUIDELINES FOR ESSAY COMPETITION

The Small Island Voice National Committee asks you to share your thinking and proposals in advocating for commitment to environment and development issues affecting small island states like St. Kitts and Nevis. You are invited to share your thinking and to advocate for greater commitment to a sustainable future.

The topic is as follows:

Evaluate the environmental challenges and implications for the sustainable future of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

You are free to develop the essay in any way you find convincing. However, your work must be original, innovative with thoughtful proposals in light of increased environmental challenges and development as small developing states.

Some helpful Websites for research are:

• www.unesco.org/csi
• www.csiwisepractices.org
• www.smallislandsvoice.org
• www.unesco.org/links
• www.sivglobal.org
• www.sivyouth.org (Username= view ; password= only)

Free Internet access for SIV-related issues only, is available at the Internet Center, in the UNESCO Secretariat, Education Building, Cayon Street.

The Internet center opens on weekdays between 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 P.M AND Saturdays, it is available from 9:00 a.m - 1:00 p.m upon request.

Eligibility

• Residents of St. Kitts-Nevis
  
  
• Between 13 and 23 years old

Length and Format

• Essay may vary in length between 2,000 and 3,000 words.
  
  
• References and Bibliography should be cited, particularly if other work or quotes were used.
  
  
• Essay should be typed on one side of the paper in double space and submitted in TRIPLICATE
  
  
• Essay should be the original effort of participants. Instances of plagiarism will invite disqualification.

Submission

• Deadline submission is June 11th, 2004
  
  
• Envelopes should be addressed to:

National Coordinating Committee
UNESCO Secretariat
Cayon Street
BASSETERRE
St. Kitts

Judging

• A Jury of Honor comprising 3-5 persons will adjudicate essays.
  
  
• The award of the judges will be final. Marks will be allotted on the basis of the following:

  Content/Organization 25

  Support for assertion 20

  Creativity 25

  Mechanics (Gr. & Sp.) 20

  Referencing 10

Awards

• Certificates of Honor will be awarded to all participants.
  
  
• Special awards will be distributed based on recommendations of the Jury of Honor.
  
  
• Two persons will be selected to represent St. Kitts-Nevis at the Summit for Small Island Developing States in Mauritius in January 2005. Persons will be responsible for developing and implementing follow-up activities in St. Kitts-Nevis on their return.
  
  
• All participants will be required to participate in a televised Award Ceremony and a verbal presentation of the winning essays, including a question and answer segment.

Timeline

14 May	Launch of Essay Competition
11 June	Deadline for Submission of Essays
15 June	Announcement of finalists
29 June	Presentation of Winning Essays and Award Ceremony on ZIZ Television - date to be confirmed
Oct/Nov	Travel to St. Lucia to participate in OECS orientation and consultation.