Media Advisory

What:      Award Ceremony for the Young Africans Writing Contest 2021

When:      African Union Day, September 9^th, 2021.                                   

 Who:      The African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC) in partnership with ACCESS Bank Zambia.

Background:   The Young Africans Writing Contest (YAWC) themed ‘My Africa, My Future’ was launched on Africa Day, May 25th 2021. Entries for the YAWC opened on 25th May 2021 and closed at midnight 25th, July 2021 CAT.

Over 850 entries were received from across Africa and were assessed by an independent jury to determine the top ten contestants.

The grand prize is a fully sponsored educational trip to the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a laptop, an African Union Winner’s Plaque and an African Union Gift Bag.

Five AU Member States with the highest number of entrants in the contest will also be rewarded.

Further, the top ten essays have been published in a special booklet entitled ‘My Africa My Future,’ which will also be launched on the occasion of AU Day 2021.

The YAWC is an ECOSOCC initiative that bridges the gap between African Youth and the African Union. By acknowledging the innovative thinking that they bring to the table, YAWC encourages the youth to reflect on the crucial role they play by providing them with a space to express themselves freely. “My Africa, My Future” articulated their aspirations and ideals for the kind of future they want for the continent.

Journalists are invited to join the YAWC Awards presentation ceremony on September 9th, 2021 held at the Neelkanth Sarovar Premier Hotel at 14.00 hrs CAT/ 15.00  hrs EAT via  ZOOM @ https://zoom.us/j/97107934126

The event will also be livestreamed on the ECOSOCC Facebook page @African Union ECOSOCC

For media inquiries, please contact:

Ms. Carol Jilombo | Senior Communications Officer | AU ECOSOCC Secretariat, Lusaka, Zambia

E-mail: Jilomboc@africa-union.org

About ECOSOCC

The Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) was established in July 2004 as an Advisory Organ composed of different social and professional groups of AU Member States. The mandate of ECOSOCC is to contribute, through advice, to the effective translation of the objectives, principles and policies of the Union into concrete programmes, as well as the evaluation of these programmes.

Learn more at: https://www.auecosocc.org