MSU's Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) and Global Youth Advancement Network co-hosted an essay contest titled "Working Together to Create the Africa We Want". This contest, which was open to all African citizens between the ages of 15-24, was part of a series of activities commemorating the launch of the Alliance for African Partnership in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in July 2017. The essay contest signals a new era of engagement in Africa, where the voice of young people are the driving force behind the partnerships, strategies, and vision that move the continent forward!

Contestants were asked to focus their essays on one of the following six AAP themes: agri-food systems; water, energy, and environment; youth employment; education; culture; and health and nutrition. A panel of eight judges from five countries received over 250 essay submissions representing 20 African nations. Authors of the three top essays received the following prizes:

• First Prize: Laptop Computer
• Second Prize: Digital Tablet 
• Third Prize: Digital Camera 

The first place winner was also invited to attend the Launch, where she read her winning essay to attendees during a gala evening.

Congratulations to our winners listed below, and thank you to all contest participants! 

Contest Winners

1st Place
Tricia Mawire | Zimbabwe | Working Together to Create the Africa We Want

2nd Place
Kalisa Ndamage | South Africa | My Envisioned Africa

3rd Place
Oluchi Okparaocha | Nigeria | The Fall of my Heritage 

The Africa We're Creating

In an effort to mobilize the voices of African youth, GYAN has compiled its book The Africa We're Creating, Global Voices - Vol. I: A Collection of Essays by African Youth — featuring more than 50 essays from GYAN's 1st annual essay contest. Our book highlights insightful essays that offer important perspective on issues facing Africa today.

Click below to read Global Voices Volume I - The Africa We're Creating!